TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
20 MARCH, 2025
Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.'”
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
A love which is priceless; that’s the kind of love Jesus had shown when He died on the Cross for humanity to be saved and in the same way we are invited to become Christlike in manner, in thoughts, and in deeds which will be achieved the moment we remain in His love and spread it to our brethren.
Truly when we speak of our love to God it is always accompanied with the expression of our love towards our neighbor and in this way we are fulfilling the greatest Commandments in which the whole Law of Moses depend on it.
Just as what this Gospel speaks in which a richman was thrown to hell and it was due his indifference and luck of love over Lazarus, while the poor man was taken to heaven for every suffering that we experienced will be blessed by God and He is pouring out His infinite mercy over those who embraced their Cross with humility. Hence, every good deed that we do to our neighbor will be counted and when the final judgement comes, it will make us more confident to face the Lord especially when it is accompanied with our unbreakable faith.
PRAYER
My Lord and my God. I pray that may you increase my faith and grant me more strength to express that faith through my good deeds. And the more I exhibit charity towards my neighbor the more I please you. So please fill me with your Holy Spirit so everything that I do will be according to your plan. Amen
Source: The Divine Word
