Lk 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.’”

Today's reflection from 1st and 5th grade students

Jesus told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had much wealth on earth in which he did not share with others. Lazarus, on the other hand, was poor and suffered. When they died, Lazarus was greeted by Abraham in heaven while the rich man was tormented in the netherworld. The rich man asked Abraham to have Lazarus dip his hand in water so that his tongue would be cooled in which Abraham explained to him that when on earth, he had all that was good while Lazarus had all that was bad. The rich man then asked for Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers what would happen if they did not change their ways but Abraham responded that if they did not listen to Moses and the prophets that no one from the dead would be able to change their ways. Jesus gives a very powerful message through this parable. He wanted the Pharisees to understand that people who are selfish on earth will suffer consequences upon death. We should treat others as we would want to be treated. We should help people who are less fortunate than ourselves because that is what Jesus and God would want us to do. What material things we have on earth will not matter in death. It is the kind acts that we do for others that truly will lead us to a life with God. 

Please click play to join us in our prayer for today, led the 5th grade students from

St. Robert School in Flushing