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Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Taking the Gospel to prayer
We know that suffering is not easy. How often have you heard the phrase that is supposed to help: "Your reward will be great in heaven"? Today's text is the root of that concept. Lazarus suffered in this life but found his reward with Abraham. The rich man wanted for nothing in his life but that is not what landed him in the netherworld. His failure to share the wealth, to pay attention to the needs of Lazarus, brought his condemnation.
The rich man seeks help to spare his brothers the same fate. Abraham refuses for they have already been given the direction that they need. Just as we have. The choice is ours to heed or ignore the warnings.
Let us put the word "rich" into context before we go to prayer. The man in the story had material wealth that he hoarded. But we can also be rich in time or in a given talent. We might be great listeners.
So let us pray today: Lord, help me to be generous. Help me to see the Lazarus situations in my life and address them. Give me the wisdom to learn from the messengers that you place in my life. Amen.
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