Sunday, September 29, 2019
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast
«Había un hombre rico que se vestía de púrpura y lino fino y banqueteaba espléndidamente cada día. Y tendido a su puerta estaba un pobre llamado Lázaro, cubierto de llagas, que con gusto se habría saciado con las sobras que caían de la mesa del rico. Hasta los perros venían a lamerle las llagas». Lucas 16:19-21
Desde cierta perspectiva, Lázaro vivía en una situación muy poco deseable. Era pobre, pasaba hambre y se encontraba en la miseria. Estaba cubierto de llagas que los perros le lamían. Jesús utiliza un lenguaje muy descriptivo, y es provechoso hacer lo posible por imaginar el deplorable estado físico en que se encontraba Lázaro.
La clave de este relato es que, aunque Lázaro se encontraba en un estado físico deplorable, su alma estaba en las manos de Dios. Sabemos que esto es verdad porque se nos dice que, al morir, «fue llevado por los ángeles al seno de Abraham» (Lucas 16:22).
This story provides us all with an opportunity to look at what is most important in life. The rich man had all he wanted in this life but clearly lacked charity on account of the fact that he ignored the physical needs of Lazarus. For that reason, the rich man was spiritually impoverished, whereas Lazarus was spiritually prosperous.
When you can keep your eyes on what is most important in life, spiritual wealth, it will make the many other hardships you endure less burdensome. Perhaps you will never be in the same physical condition as Lazarus, but you may encounter other great pains and hardships in life. When this happens, the tendency may be to become fixated upon those sufferings and to take your eyes off your interior union with God.
Reflect, today, upon how you would deal with living like Lazarus. Reflect upon what your own “sores” are in life. They may be varied in type, degree and number from those of other people’s sufferings, , but they will be encountered in your life. As you identify your suffering, turn your eyes from it to the presence of God in your soul, and allow His presence to fill you with the riches of His grace.
Lord, I offer to You my suffering and pain, my misery and hurt. Help me to always keep my eyes on You and to seek satisfaction only in the riches of Heaven. Fill my heart, especially, with love of You and charity for others so that I will be truly rich in what matters most. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflexiones sobre la Divina Misericordia
Saints of the Day – Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
