Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, February 29, 2024

Gospel

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man's table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied, 'My child,

remember that you received what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing

who might wish to go from our side to yours

or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him

to my father's house,

for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said,

'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded

if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Reflection

The word that stands out to me in this Gospel reading is “repent”.  Mostly because it is lent and during this season I am trying to see myself clearly.   I want to find those areas in my life that are causing me to sin.  The rich man in this Gospel reading was not a nice man to Lazarus.  Do I have any tendencies to treat others as the rich man treated Lazarus?

The rich man now sees clearly that repentance will help his brothers to not have the same fate as him.  It is now too late for him.  Do we see a need for repentance in our own lives?

Many times, the stories and parables that Jesus gives us help us to ask hard questions and look at areas of our lives that we do not like to see.  I do like for others to like me and to see the good in me, however is that helpful to my soul?  When someone says a truth about us that sheds light on the darkness within, do we get mad and blow it off, or do we ask Jesus to help us come out of that darkness?  To come out into the light and repent.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your living Word.  Please help me to listen with my heart so that I can see myself clearly and repent.