In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. First and foremost, it is a story about being empathetic to our neighbour in need. If we have the means to help the people who are placed in front of us, not doing so has eternal consequences.
I remember this links back to the “I confess” which we say so often at mass, “in what I have done and in what I have failed to do..”
It’s a sobering call to empathy.
Perhaps, the rich man would have helped Lazarus if he were dressed better and is an acquaintance of his, instead of a sore-ridden beggar by the gate.
Perhaps, in our own lives we have to deal with the Lazarus put in front of us. It could be that family member, relative, colleague whom we find irritating, uncouth, disgusting, illogical, irrational, dumb, or whatever else negative adjectives you can think of.
But maybe, they just need our help.
Jesus also talks of life after death in this parable and how we will be judged and rewarded accordingly.
He explains that will be a chasm between those that have made it to the good side versus those on the bad side.
Which also ironically implies, if we spend our lives avoiding a certain someone within our own lifetimes, maybe we really won’t see them on the other side.
Something to really ponder about.
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