I have three thoughts this morning about our readings. First, and probably the most obvious,
is Jesus’ call for us to serve the Lazarus in our own lives. Everyone at Mass this morning has a
warm place to live. We have plenty
of food, clean drinking water and probably more material possessions than we
actually need. How are you
reaching out to those in need?
The
second is a point we may miss. At
the end of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus’ prophesies a failure
to believe in the resurrection: “If
they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if
someone should rise from the dead.” Remember, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees—experts in the
Old Testament. Jesus is basically
saying, “If you don’t see me in God’s Word, you won’t believe that I will rise
from the dead.” Jesus did, and
they did not believe.
Finally,
a tree comes in both Jeremiah and the Psalm: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose
hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the
stream: It
fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In
the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” “He
is like a tree planted near running water, That
yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade.” What a powerful image with which to
pray. Like a tree, we must be
deeply rooted in our spiritual lives to remain steadfast through the good and
bad we experience.
All
of these come together at another tree—the cross. Here Jesus, like Lazarus, is rejected and hung in
poverty. He gives his life even to
those who don’t believe. He shows
us that we must be rooted, like a tree, next to the Tree of Life.
May
we always be close to the cross, close to the poor and believe.
No comments:
Post a Comment