DIGGING THE GRAND CANYON

“Between you and us there is fixed a great abyss…” –Luke 16:26

Mass Readings: March 1
First: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Resp: Psalm 1:1-4,6;Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Listen to the Mass Readings

Note that the rich man’s dialogue with Father Abraham shows that he knew Lazarus by name (see Lk 16:24). Twice the rich man (traditionally called ‘Dives’) asks Father Abraham to dispatch Lazarus to perform tasks that a servant boy would typically perform (Lk 16:24, 27). This indicates that Dives likely knew the poor man lying at his very door. The dogs paid more attention to Lazarus than did Dives. Possibly Dives regarded Lazarus as no more than a servant.

“More tortuous than all else is the human heart” (Jer 17:9). We men and women can become so hardened of heart that we think only of our needs and not of the needs of others. Is there anyone in our lives to whom we only pay heed if they can be of assistance to us? The great chasm separating Dives from Lazarus in Jesus’ parable did not just appear in the afterlife (Lk 16:26); Dives dug that abyss each day that he disregarded his fellow human beings during his lifetime. Though Lazarus lay at Dives’ door, it was as though he was on the other side of the Grand Canyon. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (see Heb 3:7-8, 15).

PRAYER: Jesus, open my eyes to see all the times when I fail to pay attention to the needy and therefore to You (Mt 25:41-45). “May charity be the root and foundation” of my life (Eph 3:17).
PROMISE: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.” —Jer 17:7
PRAISE: Repenting of becoming mediocre and lukewarm in a ministry she had been involved with for many years, Leah saw God give her a new heart and pour out His Spirit on the ministry in a new abundance.