Reflection
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
Luke 16:19-31
Regrets. We all have a bunch, don’t we. Maybe we said something intentionally, or unintentionally that hurt someone’s feelings. Maybe our temper gets the best of us and we let someone have it when they really did not deserve such mistreatment. Maybe we walked right past that person who could use some help. Maybe we ignored our children, parents, family members or friends because it was just too inconvenient to our own plans.
How did you feel at the end of today’s gospel reading? Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and the poor man named Lazarus (note the rich man is not named, just the poor man). The rich man gets to the netherworld where he is in torment over the things he has and has not done. In particular, what he did not do for Lazarus.
There is a lot to today’s parable but I think it really comes down to this: what we do or do not do in this life matters. It matters to God, to others, and to ourselves. How we treat others, the not yet born, the elderly, the migrant, the homeless and the poor matters. We do not need to cure all of their problems by ourselves but it matters how we try to make sure we let each person know that they matter. They are important to us and to God.
Great sounding words, right? Yep. Hard to do sometimes, right? Yep. However, Jesus tells us about the great chasm between those who care and those who do not. That chasm is closed when we try to make sure people know they matter. We will of course make mistakes along the way and say something wrong, but we are human. If that has or does happen – seek forgiveness this Lent from the person you hurt and get to Reconciliation.
God wants you to know that you matter. Go let someone else know and smile at God today!