Each one of us must use the special gift he has received from God for the good of others
(Peter 4:10)
We live in a world of opposites. We have day different from night, light from darkness, white from black, males from females and so on. These contraries or opposites are manifestations of God’s mystery and glory in creation and in his divine plan. And so they are. We do not question.
Similarly, in our world we have people we refer to as rich. They are those who live far above others in terms of material possessions. This should be understood as God’s gift to them because of the potentials God has given them directly or through inheritance. It’s God’s plan that they use their wealth, not only for themselves, but also to help others in need or for the wider society.
The poor, on the other hand need not see their condition as a result of their wrongs or a curse from God, except in the cases of indolence, but as a part of God’s divine plan. Whatever is denied them here, in our material world, may be preserved for them in the next, who knows. This is the story where the gospel between the rich man and Lazarus has its meaning.
The rich man in the gospel failed to use his wealth to help the poor Lazarus, not even with the crumbs from the table. The dogs licked his sores. But at death the rich man lost everything, not even a drop of cold water. But Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom was richly rewarded after all his sufferings on earth. The word of Christ in last Sunday’s reading has this meaning, “Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
The Church and society preach charity to the poor and needy not only to individuals but to a wider group in our society. They also establish such places as charity homes, health care centers, St. Vincent de Paul Society, our Outreach Energy Support program and other such places. It is in such events that we can adequately fulfil the law in Christ and the criterion for the last judgement, “I was hungry, you gave me food, thirsty, you gave water to drink……, and they asked, “When did we see you in these conditions and came to your need”. He said in reply, “When you did these for the least of these little ones that belong to me, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:35-40).
By Fr. Chris
P.S. Fr. Bob says, “Remember to pray that you have the gospel talent to understand where people are really coming from, especially the poor.”
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