sharing of wealth, health and prayer with other people.(Lk.16 :19-31)

 Lazar and the rich man
Just as the whole gospel, so also today's Gospel has a message for us. It talks about 2 people. A wealthy man and a poor man .The rich man has no name. The poor man is called Lazar. This story talks about two situations - first, about life in this world and secondly, about life in the world after death.

In the first situation, the rich man lives a luxurious life, while Lazar had a difficult life. The rich man had everything he needed to live- had enough and more food, clothes and  housing. He had not only enough, but also all in luxury. He dressed himself in purple and fine linen and lived ..... so says the gospel.


On the other side is Lazar. Lazar had nothing to eat. He would gladly be satisfied  with the food remains that fell from the table of the rich.
He was terminally ill: we read in verse 21: Instead, the dogs came and licked his sores.

In the second situation, we hear that Lazar died first and he was promptly carried into Abraham's bosom. About the burial of Lazar nothing is spoken, while  the rich man's  burial is  spoken of .

The difference between the first station and the second is important to be noticed. The rich man who was in the first station, , has lived in his earthly life  in  luxury and carried into the underworld, where he suffered excruciating pain.

The reason for this is very important to us.

The rich man who had no eyes in his earthly life for the poor, the hungry and homeless people sees  Lazarus from the underworld.  But even there he sees Lazar as a servant, not as of equal status.  This shows the terrible mentality of the rich man.

The main message of today's gospel is nothing else. Care the other people. Do others what they wish or need,  give them what they need, especially the helpless, poor, sick, etc.

What we have is the grace of God, even if we have got it through our work. Of course, health is always the grace of God. What we receive, we must share with our fellow human beings. That can be work, spending  time for  others, or having a good smile at others ... ....

The rich man in our gospel had to share the opportunity with Lazar. The rich man had previously  everything and lived a life of high status. But the wealth has made him selfish and blind to his neighbour. Even if he has open many times the doors of his house he has not opened his heart . He has offcourse  Lazer and his situation seen. But that did not move him do amything for him or  in his heart felt nothing . That was his mistake.  . Sometimes we can be like the rich man.

One whi is rich with money should also be rich in  heart . Jesus needs us to be so . Money can not lead us to  good goals without the help of eyes and hearts . This leads us only to anxiety and unhappiness. When we share our happiness is greater.  We are born as social beings  and if we share, we are human, so divine.

We have the freedom for both - to look only at ourselves or at others also.
(Who wants to be happy - in this world and in the world to come - stick to the message of the gospel: shares wealth, health and prayer with other people.)


 Amen.