CL Best Work Gospel Output
By: Angelica Ilustre SR-D
Reflections on the Rich Man and Lazarus Gospel
In the 8 Beatitudes, it said that “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Lazarus suffered greatly while he was on earth. He did not complain, and he did not blame God. He suffered, but he accepted it. When he died, he went to God’s kingdom and he was comforted. The rich man, on the other hand, loved fruitfully and extravagantly. He did not share his blessings and did not use it to help his brothers. When he died, he went to hell. God gave him the opportunity to be of help to his brothers, but he did not do so. As he was in hell he asked Abraham to warn his brothers on earth but he did not because he said there are prophets who are doing that. Abraham is saying that we do not have to just see and believe. We just have to put our faith and trust in God and we will join him in his kingdom.
Our society today is deeply engrossed with materialism and vanity, to the point where morals come into question. Morals become the least of our priorities, and we focus on our own benefits and pleasures. The gospel can relate to this in a sense where the rich man was too attached to his worldly possessions and forgot about God. He chose to ignore the prophets as well and did not live his life committed to being a steward of God. This led him astray from God. We, as Christians, must not forget our true purpose in the world. We are created in God’s image and likeness because we are called to follow in His footsteps and live selflessly. But we are only human, and we are bound to commit sin and error. What’s important is we try, with the best of our abilities, to avoid this and if we do, ask for forgiveness and do penance.
If I were in Lazarus’ position, I would try to use my blessings for others as well. I would not limit myself to using my blessings for my own benefit. Also, I would try to not only create a good change within myself but also try to influence others. If God does not deem me fit to join Him in heaven because I have done many wrong things, I will accept it. God is our ultimate judge. The Gospel challenges us to become more selfless and generous. It challenges us to use our hearts and care for others as well. As a student, simple things such as helping others in difficult subjects and the like can be a sign of generosity. As early as now, we should begin spreading and nurturing this spirit of love and faith in order to create a better society, which is what God, for me, was trying to convey to us in His gospel.
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