Deacon Tom Anthony

Gospel Lk 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.’”

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

How often we are distracted from doing what is truly right and important in our lives. Our senses are constantly overloaded with enjoyments provided by this world while our spirituality is buried deep within ourselves. On one level we must consider ourselves very fortunate to live in a time where there is so much prosperity that we have so many opportunities to choose from. Yet, with opportunity comes responsibility. Society creates an illusion of what is important. We then live out this illusion by indulging in what society has to offer. Present satisfaction becomes important while the future is reserved for obtaining more. It must be understood that what is described is not God’s Creation but our own.

Jesus reminds us that Creation is not just about us individually. As Christians we have a responsibility to lift those up around us who are less fortunate. Yes, we are all suffering to some extent but there is always someone who is suffering more. Because of the illusion that we have created by ignoring our spirituality, we tend to make our personal challenges the most important thing in our lives. We convince ourselves that there is just not enough time to help others who are facing their own calamities. The result of these actions is that there are so many people, including us, who are suffering alone. There are many repercussions to this. Alone we suffer and alone we celebrate our successes. Loneliness is a weapon of Satan and is divisive while a life with Jesus Christ is a uniting force.

There are many tools that Satan uses to separate ourselves from Jesus Christ. A very effective one is distraction. Oftentimes, when we know what we should be doing, we find ourselves doing something else to satisfy our inner cravings. It takes one small suggestion to enter our brain for us to divert ourselves from what is truly important. Our focus is blurred when tempted by a more pleasing choice that immediately gratifies our carnal desires. We then enjoy the moment only to find ourselves empty afterwards and overcome with regret. We then perpetuate a cycle of overstimulation by repeating this pattern of behavior. It is Satan’s intent to use this cycle to pull us away from Jesus Christ and into misery. We are warned by Jesus in the Gospel Reading today that this state of misery might not be realized until it is too late.

To combat this danger we must exercise our spirituality. The spiritual fruits of a life with Jesus Christ have the capability of offering so much more than anything from this physical world. We must act out our faith-life, binding with the physical so that the joy of living the way Christ intended it can be experienced. With that we can fully understand what Jesus wants us to do. There is so much joy in living a life together in community. We cannot separate ourselves from each other in pursuit of earthly desires. We must remember that here, on this earth, is not the end but only the beginning. Jesus Christ reminds us of the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual ones:

Feed the Hungry

Give Drink to the Thirsty

Clothe the Naked

Tend to the Sick

Visit the Incarcerated

Give Alms to the Poor

Bury the Dead

Counsel the Doubtful

Instruct the Ignorant

Admonish the Sinner

Comfort the Sorrowful

Forgiving Injuries

Bearing Wrongs Patiently

Praying for the Living and the Dead

It is through all of these that we enjoy life as God intended.

Deacon Tom