In the story today about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:9-13), Jesus gives us the question we will all be asked at judgement: what have you done to help the poor? Unlike the rich man in the Gospel, let us share generously with those who are in need around us. Who is a "Lazarus" in your life?
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Who will welcome us into God's Kingdom? Those we have given to without counting the cost. In today's Gospel (Luke 16:1-13), Jesus describes the economics of God and teaches us an important lesson about stewardship.
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| An etching by Jan Luyken in the Bowyer Bible, Bolton, England |
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In the Gospel today (Luke 15), we hear three parables which tell us about the mercy of God. God loves all. God has a special love for those who are suffering. He is always with us and seeks us out when we are in need. As Pope Francis said, "the name of God is mercy".
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| La drachme perdue, J.J. Tissot |
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When Jesus tells his follows to "hate" mother, father and even our very self (Lk 14:25-33), He is not suggesting that we should distain particular individuals. Rather, He warns us that we cannot construct our identity based on family ties or social status (e.g. "I am from a wealthy and powerful family therefore I am superior" or "I am from a family of limited means and influence therefore I am of less value than other"), as was common at His time. Rather, be a disciple our identity needs to be rooted in Christ. When we do this, we can truly love others and have a proper understanding of our own dignity.
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| The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, Caravaggio |
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