DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
“Self-Centred Living”: In today’s Gospel, Jesus preaches the parable of “a rich man” who lived a self-centred life, that was oblivious of the suffering of Lazarus, at his gate, a poor man covered with sores. Are we conscious of our need to share the abundant blessings that God has given to us? Are we also guilty of living a self-centred life?
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Luke 16:19-26
Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there used to lie a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with what fell from the rich man’s table. Even dogs came and licked his sores.
Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The rich man also died and was buried. ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his embrace. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.”
Abraham said, “My son, remember that during your life you had your fill of good things, just as Lazarus his fill of bad. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to prevent those who want to cross from our side to yours or from your side to ours.”