Reflection for September 28 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 16:19-31

Gospel: 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.’

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who did not believe in God or in the afterlife. He wantonly wasted his days indulging in sinful pleasures. His life was filled with immoral satisfaction—drugs, sex, and other worldly pursuits. In other words, he had no time for God. This became his way of life because he did not believe in the existence of the afterlife, much less in God. 

But is there really an afterlife, a life that immediately begins once our time in this world is over? The answer is a resounding yes! The Gospel reminds us that there is indeed an afterlife, one that is very different from the life we have today. In the afterlife, there exist two kingdoms: the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan, where he dwells. 

In the Gospel, we encounter two men: an unnamed rich and indifferent man, and the poor man named Lazarus. The rich man perhaps did not believe in the afterlife, or was not aware of its reality. That is why he did not care for Lazarus, who was in dire need of his help. He simply ignored him as if he did not exist. 

When both of them died, there was a reversal of places. The poor man Lazarus, who endured suffering while alive, was carried into the kingdom of God. Meanwhile, the rich man, who had savored earthly pleasures, found himself in the dark kingdom of Satan. 

Why was there this reversal? Because the rich man was indifferent to the desperate cry of Lazarus. If only he had known that Lazarus was close to God! If only he had realized that Lazarus could have been God in disguise! 

The message for us is very clear: we must never ignore the cry of the poor, for in their brokenness we see the face of God. The poor are not a burden but a living reminder of God’s presence in our midst. 

How often do we pass by the “Lazarus” in our own lives—the beggar on the street, the relative in need, the neighbor silently crying for help—without even noticing? Will we choose to open our hearts to them as if we are serving God Himself, or will we risk being blind like the rich man? – Marino J. Dasmarinas