Sunday, September 29, 2019
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast
“Havia um homem rico que se vestia de púrpura e linho fino e todos os dias se banqueteava com fartura. À sua porta jazia um pobre chamado Lázaro, coberto de feridas, que desejava saciar-se com as sobras que caíam da mesa do rico. Até os cães vinham lamber suas feridas.” Lucas 16,19-21
Sob certo ponto de vista, Lázaro vivia numa situação muito penosa. Era pobre, faminto e miserável. Estava coberto de feridas que os cães vinham lamber. Jesus usa uma linguagem muito descritiva, e é proveitoso fazer o possível para imaginar o estado físico deplorável em que Lázaro se encontrava.
A chave desta história é que, embora Lázaro estivesse numa condição física miserável, sua alma estava nas mãos de Deus. Sabemos que isso é verdade porque nos é dito que, quando morreu, ele foi “levado pelos anjos para o seio de Abraão” (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.
Mais reflexões sobre o Evangelho
Reflexões sobre a Divina Misericórdia
Saints of the Day – Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
