Will you live like the rich man too and be indifferent to others?
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.'"
~Luke 16:19-31
Will you live like the rich man too and be indifferent to others? God favored Lazarus for Heaven over the rich man who was indifferent. Are you ever indifferent? Do you hate? Are you an elitist? Do you think you know more and are above God? I know that I know people who act like that of the rich man, they are indifferent, just walk right by someone in need like poor Lazarus and ignore his needs, hunger, poverty, and soars. It was funny that Jesus was telling this story or parable to the Pharisees. Because I know a priest from our old church who behaved just like this rich man to me and my spouse each week when we would go to church or see him at the local gym. He would ignore us, avoid us, walk right by, and not want anything to do with us. Although we would see him in church. Can you image a priest behaving this way toward his parishioners? We thought it was odd. I guess a lot of priests are wrestling with many of their own demons. I pray I go to Heaven and can be like Lazarus. I try to be a good person, follow Jesus, go to church, love all people, and try never to be indifferent to others. I read a book by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, he was popular in the 60's and 70's with a TV show, he says that indifference is not different than hate. The story here in the Bible is one of my favorites for a very long time now, but now that I have actually been a victim in a way like Lazarus to this indifference from a rich man, in my case a priest, I felt this same rejection, ignorance, avoiding, and indifference. I do not think it is right and it is sad to see. I do pray for priests everyday that they can be more like Jesus, I know there are many good ones. I often wonder if this priest realizes that he is behaving like the rich man in this parable by being indifferent to his parishioners. How we live on this Earth makes a difference to all other people. Are we going to live with love for all humanity? Or are we going to live with hate and indifference toward some? How are you living your life today? Is there someone that you could show some love, compassion, mercy, and kindness to? Will you die before it is too late to have loved another in need here on Earth? This is what God really wants us to do in order to get into Heaven!
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The Truth-God is Truth and Love