SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions
Getting Our Priorities Straight
by Father Todd Arsenault, LC
Resolution: Look for the opportunity to show Christ’s love to someone today.
February 21, 2008
Thursday of the second week of Lent
Luke 16: 19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Introductory Prayer: I come before you, Lord, a sinner in awe of your great love and mercy. I believe in you, and I put you at the center of my life. I humbly put all that I am before you and, like the apostles, recognize my littleness before your grandeur. With the help of the Blessed Mother’s intercession, I place this meditation into your hands, trusting that you will give me the graces that I need most.
Petition: Lord, help me to recognize my complete dependence on you for grace to live according to your will. Help me to detach myself more each day from the enslaving clutches of sin and vice in my life.
1. The High Life The rich man had it all. Since he had all the material needs he could ask for, he didn’t have a care in the world. It seemed as though all was perfect. But the poor guy did lack one thing. Jesus said it well when he told the rich young man to sell all that he owned, give it to the poor, and come follow him (cf. Matthew 19:16-22). Jesus’ advice is this: Put me at the center, before all else. The rich man put himself first. God was distant, unimportant. Perhaps we can see a little of ourselves in the rich man; perhaps we put material things ahead of our duties towards God and our neighbor, thus neglecting virtue of charity.
2. Nothing but Hope The poor man, Lazarus, was in need of a great deal. He suffered much. From the outside it would seem that God had forgotten him, whereas with the rich man, it would seem that God heaped blessing upon blessing on him. However, the poor man had one thing: his salvation. Even though we don’t hear it said, he hoped in God alone. What else could he depend on? This isn’t to suggest that we can’t have the necessities of life, but it goes to show us that in the end only one thing matters: putting God at the center of our lives.
3. One Life, One Chance to Live It Christ is calling us to be attentive to the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we maintain daily contact with Christ in prayer, we will see the signs he sends our way. The rich man thought that phenomenal signs from the heavens would for sure convert his brothers, who were living their earthly lives as he had lived his. However, our Lord tells him that signs won’t make a difference. If their hearts are closed to God, they won’t pay attention or heed the warnings. We need to put Christ first no matter what our walk in life. In the end, this life is where we need to opt for Christ above all else.
Conversation with Christ: Christ, in this Gospel you show me that I need to turn to you in complete dependence to gain the Kingdom of God. I want to be with you, but I also want to bring to you as many other souls as possible. I promise to work hard in this life to do all the good possible and to share your love with all I meet. I want nothing more than to be your untiring apostle.
Resolution: I will look for the opportunity to show Christ’s love to someone today.
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