Saturday, January 23, 2010

Lazarus and the rich man

I read a reflection on a Gospel passage this morning. It's the parable of the rich man who dressed and ate well and the beggar Lazarus at his door. Both died and the rich man went to hell and Lazarus to heaven. Now the author of the reflection noted that the rich man knew Lazarus when they were both alive, because he knew the poor man's name as Lazarus. The rich man did not fulfill his moral responsibility to help poor, sick and hungry Lazarus in life. Now that they're dead, the rich man still thinks Lazarus in a lowly position - he asks Abraham to tell Lazarus to serve him - to bring some water and to inform his brothers. This rich guy thinks he's still superior to Lazarus even in death! Wow .... now that's something to think about. Let's help the poor, sick and hungry while we're still alive .... because whatever you do to the least person, you do it to Jesus.