THE RICH SELFISH MAN AND LAZARUS.
LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN.
"BLESSED THE ONE CONCERNED FOR THE POOR; ON A DAY OF MISFORTUNE, THE LORD DELIVERS HIM." (PSALM 41: 2).
The Liturgical readings this Sunday focus on the Lazarus Principle.
Sunday September 28th, 2025 in the 26th week in Ordinary Time.
Three of the four readings in today's Liturgy address social conditions and justice. The poverty, ignorance and disease all around us cry for remedy.
"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 the 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." (Luke 16: 19.... 31).
The likes of the Rich man in today's Gospel was castigated by the Prophet Amos in the first Reading:
"Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall."
In all the hopelessness today in the world, we are comforted by the truth of Scripture which reminds us of these perennial truths:
#1 God keeps faith forever.
#2 He gives food to the hungry.
#3 The Lord sets captives free.
#4 The Lord protects strangers.
#5 He sustains the widows and the orphans.
#6 God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence is firmly in control of everything in the world.
God our Father can remedy the world's problems of poverty, ignorance disease directly by Himself immediately. Why does He need our collaboration? God wants us to share in His work and glory. He wants us to build up credits for ourselves in heaven.
The poor that we help here will speak up for us on the last day. Lazarus could not offer one good word in defense of the selfish rich man."
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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