His Word Today: Go out

Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588-1629)
The Rich Man and the Poor Lazarus (1625)

Good morning everyone,

The parable of the rich man that is told in today's gospel (cf Lk 16:19-31) always reminds me that no matter how fortunate we have been in life, we should never take things for granted.  There are always others in our midst who are in need.  Sometimes these people are lying right at our doorstep (cf Lk 16:20), which you would think would make them easier to identify, but their proximity sometimes makes us more blind to their presence.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has repeatedly challenged us to go out.  For those who have become comfortable with their surroundings, this challenge may truly be difficult to accept, but only if we are able to go out of ourselves and to go to the peripheries of existence will we be able to open our eyes and recognize the poor who are right before our eyes.

This is a choice that we must make every day: to go out in search of those who are in need.  If we approach life in this way, we will soon discover the need to trust and to hope in the Lord (cf Jer 17:7).  The great blessing that is right before our eyes is the fact that the less we rely on our own ingenuity and the more that we turn to God, the less we will have to concern ourselves with the things that can distract us from focusing on what is truly important in life.

Pray today for the grace to let go of the things that keep us focused on our own private matters.  Ask for the blessing to go out to the places where we will be able to perceive the people who need our help, and may God grant us the courage to act in his name.

Have a great day.