In the story of Lazarus and the
rich man, what sin did the rich man commit that condemned him? He wasn’t a
thief, or a murderer, or even a liar. He appears to have been a good guy,
wealthy, successful, with a large family whom he cared about. So what action
sent him to the netherworld?
In fact it was nothing he did; it
was something he did not do. How many times have we heard someone say that they
will get to heaven because they haven’t committed any mortal sins? “I’m a good
guy,” they say, “I haven’t killed anyone or stolen anything.” This is not a
Christian attitude.
Christ did not come to us to simply
lead a sinless life. He came to show us the need to take an active role in our
salvation. He came to work, to seek out the lost sheep. He came to bring light
to a darkened world.
If we are to live like Christ then
we must live for others.
When Christ was asked what was the
most important commandment, He did not list all the things we should not do.
Instead He told us of two things we must do, love God, and love our neighbor.
The rich man may have been without
sin but he closed his heart to a neighbor in dire need. He was concerned only
with himself. But the law of heaven is self-giving and in the end he was not
fit to live there.
Pax Vobiscum
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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