Gospel
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.
The rich man did not go to the netherworld because he was rich. He ended up there because he placed rich food, beautiful surroundings, fine clothing, lavish living first in his life.
So that when the poor and suffering even lived at his doorstep he did not see them.
He did not put God first but this world. He didn’t love others but loved this world.
He chose not to live with God at his center and not to live with others welfare as important as his own. But to live with riches and this world at the center and focus of his life.
So when he left this world he went where God was not and where the poor and suffering did not end up.
It is our love of God and helping others that will get us to heaven.
Everything else we have is temporary and we cannot take with us. Only Love and only what we did for others comes with us to give testimony for our lives.
Riches have no voice in Heaven. Fine things and comfortable living bear no witness for us. Only Jesus Christ and those we loved and cared for will greet us if we greeted them in this world.
Is Jesus Christ a daily confidant. Someone we are talking to throughout the day? Are the poor known to me? Do I give when I can and share?
It is difficult for some to repent and change their life. Even if they hear how God came down from heaven and then rose from the dead for us… they will not change and seek eternal things rather than what the world has set before us.
How are we doing this Lent?
What is our focus during this time of charity, prayer and almsgiving?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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