Reflection for March 5 Thursday of the Second in Week in Lent: 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.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

A dying rich woman once had a dream. In her dream, Jesus gently asked her, “Do you want to be in heaven with Me when your earthly life ends?”

With longing in her heart, she answered, “Yes, my Lord, I desire to be with You.”

Then Jesus asked her again, “Are you willing to give your treasures to the poor?”

Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes, my Lord, I will give all that I have to the poor.”

When she awoke, she did not ignore what she had heard. She allowed the dream to move her heart. She gave away her treasures and shared her blessings with those in need. A few days later, she passed from this life—and indeed, her soul was welcomed by the Lord into eternal joy.

Do the poor have a purpose in our lives? Yes, they do. They are not accidents in our path. They are not interruptions to our comfort. They are sacred encounters placed before us. The poor close the gap between us and God. They draw us nearer to His compassionate heart, for they are deeply loved by Him.

In the Gospel, we meet the nameless rich man and the poor man Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man saw Lazarus every day, yet he failed to truly see him. His eyes were open, but his heart was closed. He viewed Lazarus as a nuisance rather than a blessing, as a burden rather than an opportunity for grace.

What if he had recognized that behind his gate stood God in disguise? What if he had understood that each knock was not meant to disturb him, but to save him? Perhaps he would have opened not only his door but also his heart.

Every day, we encounter those who are materially and spiritually poor. They may be hungry for food, hungry for love, hungry for attention, hungry for hope. Sometimes they are strangers on the street. Sometimes they are people within our own homes.

The question is not whether God speaks to us. The question is whether we are listening. The question is not whether God stands at our door. The question is whether we are willing to open it.

When we face the poor, we face Christ Himself. When we ignore them, we risk turning away from Him.

As we reflect on this truth, let us examine our hearts. Are we seeing the poor as burdens—or as bridges that lead us closer to God?

If Christ were standing at our gate today in the disguise of someone in need, would we recognize Him… and would we open our door?—Marino J. Dasmarinas