Sunday, September 29, 2019
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast
« Il y avait un homme riche qui s’habillait de pourpre et de lin fin et faisait chaque jour de somptueux festins. À sa porte gisait un pauvre nommé Lazare, couvert d’ulcères, qui aurait bien voulu se rassasier des miettes qui tombaient de la table du riche. Même les chiens venaient lécher ses ulcères. » Luc 16, 19-21
D’un certain point de vue, Lazare vivait dans un état que personne n’aurait souhaité connaître. Il était pauvre, affamé et misérable. Il était couvert d’ulcères que les chiens venaient lécher. Jésus emploie ici un langage très évocateur, et il est utile de s’efforcer d’imaginer le misérable état physique dans lequel se trouvait Lazare.
La clé de ce récit est que, malgré son misérable état physique, l’âme de Lazare était entre les mains de Dieu. Nous savons qu’il en était ainsi, car il nous est dit qu’à sa mort, il fut « emporté par les anges dans le sein d’Abraham » (Luc 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.
Autres méditations sur l’Évangile
Méditations sur la Miséricorde divine
Saints of the Day – Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
