“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.’”

luke 16:31

Luke 16:19-31

Reflection

Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who goes to Hades after living a luxurious and wealthy life. Likewise, a poor man named Lazarus dies, but goes to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man implores Lazarus to quench his tormented thirst, but Abraham says it is not possible. The rich man even asks for Lazarus to be sent back to the man’s brothers to tell them to repent, but again, Abraham denies this, telling him they have Moses and the prophets, and a man raised from the dead will not cause them to repent.

The rich man was not only wealthy, selfish, and greedy, but he also fails to understand that he had access to the Scriptures in his lifetime and did not repent – why would his brothers? We are often like the rich man, taking for granted the beauty and knowledge of the Church, but not always repenting or committing to a life centered on Christ.

Besides this, we might even delay pursuing our faith until later in life, instead going after wealth, fame, sports, hobbies, etc. Our failure to follow Christ until it’s too late is something we want to avoid. We have abundant resources and access to our loving Lord here on earth; develop a relationship with him now so that it can grow for eternity.

This Lent, recommit yourself to the Lord. Ask him for the grace to be strong in your faith and repent of your sins, instead choosing to follow him and the path to heaven.

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Saint of the Day

St. Józef Bilczewski: 1860 – 1923

“Be in good spirits under the fatherly mantle of St. Joseph, a place of safest refuge in trials and tribulations.”   St. Józef