Avoiding Hell
Social Justice.
I’m sure most homilies today will focus on the contrast between the rich man and Lazarus, the neglect of the poor by the rich. Yet the end of our Lord’s parable is quite sobering, and an essential message seems to be there.
The love of many will grow cold.
The rich man, crying out for mercy asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them about perdition, insisting that “if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” In other words, if a great sign and wonder such as an apparition of a man from heaven occurs, they will surely convert and live according to the commandments.
The only sign - the sign of Jonah.
Abraham replies, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”
Will the Son of Man find any faith when he returns?
In fact, many today deny the resurrection of Christ, while for others the resurrection is not enough and they look for new signs and wonders, and still others try to contact the dead through mystics and fortune tellers. In effect, ignoring the wounded Christ in the ‘distressing disguise of the poor’.
What does it take to convince us?
September 30th, 2007 at 8:09 am
What it often takes is an enormous tragedy, illness, injury, loss. When one realizes no mortal can save– one’s eyes are raised. I am quite certain He would rather we not wait until a dire crisis before acknowledging His power and might, His desire for our mercy, and His love.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:57 am
Our homilist on Sunday pointed out that all of us are “the 5 brothers,” which I thought was spot on.