WHAT MATTERS IS THE KIND OF RESPONSE WE MAKE

How do we respond when we are in a situation 

where we are poor and helpless, down and out?
How have we been responding when we meet the Lazaruses in our life?

Notes taken @ homily given by Rev Fr Ambrose Vaz
25 Sept 2022 (Sunday), Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Saccour 

Gospel - Luke 16:19-31 - Lazarus and the rich man

Sin

• Some tend to narrow down sin = doing something bad. 
• In today's Gospel, sin = the refusal to do something good.
  

The rich and the poor

• The rich - those who have abilities, talents, resources 
• The poor - those who are short on abilities, talents, resources.
  

It is about the kind of response we give

• Heaven or hell is not about whether we are rich or poor but the kind of response we give.
• Eternal rewards is not based on our situation, but the kind of response we make in the situation we are in.

We are rich in some situations, and poor in some. In every situation, it is how we respond that counts.

Lazarus' response

• Lazarus has the right response. 
• He was helpless, so weak that he couldn't even chase the dogs away. 
• But he did not say or do anything to hurt the rich man. He trusted in the Lord. He died hungry. God may not have fulfilled his physical hunger, but God came to his aid by giving him strength to continue to trust in Him.
• He trusted, he did not draw pity upon himself, he did not emotionally blackmail others nor indulge in self pity. Lazarus is rewarded and he was in the bosom of Abraham in heaven.
  
  

The rich man's response

• God's blessings are to be shared for the benefit of others but the rich man ignored the hunger of those who are in need. 
• God's blessings and riches are not only in material resources, but also our ability to love, to forgive, to be kind, to be patient. 
• We have to give rather than keep.
  

How do we respond when we are in a situation where we are poor and helpless?

When we are down and out, do we hit out at others because we don't have?

How have we been responding when we meet the Lazaruses in our life?

How will we respond?

Can we identify Lazarus or do we pretend he is not there and carry on with our own lives?

Lazarus is right there in front of us..

Lazarus may not scream and shout, he may not bang at our door, but he is there.

Am I willing to find out?

Am I eager to discover?

Am I ready to share the resources God has given me?