Here Jesus tells the story of a rich man who feasted every single day while a beggar named Lazarus starved to death outside of the gates of the rich man's house. The poor man ends up in the bosom of Abraham while the rich man ends up in Hades. There is a double lesson here about how we use our time and possessions in this life and how some people cannot hear or understand the Truth, even if spoken by someone who has returned from the dead. The common denominator for both is a pitiable hardness of heart that does not recognize the needs of others or the Truth when it's right in front of them.
Up Next in Year C
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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
The underlying theme to all three readings this week is faith. The prophet Habakkuk cries out to God with a question common to every human heart: Why does God allow evil to persist in the world? As you read these three passages, consider how God doesn't answer the question--and how he does. Ultim...
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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
"Have an attitude of gratitude" is one of those catchphrases fit for bumper stickers and children's books. Yet, for Christians, this is more than a catchphrase. It is a basic command of Christian life. Notice in today's Gospel reading the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. All ten turned to Jes...
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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Persistence in prayer is a theme Jesus returns to again and again. In today's Gospel reading we hear about a widow keeps coming back to the judge to demand justice. Finally, because of her persistence, the judge gives in to her demand. More than a lesson about nagging, this is a lesson the echoes...
