Sunday 28 September 2025

The Examen

How have I lived out last week’s Gospel message? … What was tough? … What was rewarding?

The Call

Spirit of God, you call us to share our riches with the poor and disadvantaged, lest we follow self-interest to our ruin and destruction. Teach us to bestow your blessings on those in need, lest we be trapped by selfish desire. Set our hearts on the riches of good works, rather than the allure of earthly treasures. Amen.

The Gospel

Luke 16: 29 – 31

Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.” “I know, Father Abraham,” he said, “but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.” Abraham replied, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.”

View: Luke 16: 19 – 31 – Lazarus and the Rich Man

The Introduction

We hear a lot from Jesus on the subject of wealth and how people use it. Jesus preaches throughout the Gospel accounts about the needs of the poor and how we’re called as his disciples to provide for the least among us. The rich man in this week’s Gospel won’t be excluded from heaven because he’s rich, he’ll be excluded because he didn’t use the wealth he had to help the people who needed it the most. Sometimes it’s not even monetary wealth that Jesus speaks of either, it’s food, or clothing, or simply spending time with the people who need someone. This week, think about how you can be different from the rich man. Make a list of things that you can do to help the poor and choose one way to help on a regular basis.

The Reflection

This week’s parable presents a stark contrast between the beggar Lazarus and the unnamed rich man. In the ancient world, purple dye was a mark of excessive wealth and privilege, as was the fine linen the rich man was dressed in. Jesus paints a picture of someone who used his wealth wastefully and selfishly. In contrast, Lazarus had no home, no food, and is too weak to keep the dogs from licking at his wounds. The rich man doesn’t help Lazarus even though Lazarus is literally on his doorstep.

The obvious justice of this rich man’s punishment only underlines the audacity of his behaviour after death. Even after death and punishment, the rich man still feels entitled! He still objectifies Lazarus as someone to send to fetch water or send messages. The rich man’s failure to recognise Lazarus as a person with inherent dignity challenges us to examine our own attitudes and treatment of those in need.

Check out: Lazarus and the Rich Man – Bill Wells

The Action

Who is the Lazarus on your doorstep? Consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank over the next few weeks. Take the time to talk to someone who is suffering to learn their name and their story. Alternatively, reach out to someone who might be overlooked or objectified in your family or school. Remember that God sees and loves every human being, regardless of their social status or worldly success.

How do you understand the connection between your faith and how you live your life? What are some challenges that young people might face living out their faith in their daily lives?

Learn about the Catholic social teaching principle of the life and dignity of every person:

Check out:

The Connection

Who’s Outside Your Door?

 
Have you ever noticed that the rich man in the story never did anything wrong? He just went about his life. For whatever reason, he didn’t even notice Lazarus. Maybe he was just busy. Who knows?

And that, Jesus says, is the problem. It’s not what the rich man did. It’s what he didn’t do.

Let’s get busy. I know adults that work hard all day and then spend the evening driving their kids to a few different activities. I know young people that go to school all day and then spend each evening on homework, sports, or school activities.

But Lazarus lives today. He is the lonely kid at school. He is the hungry child in Africa. Jesus challenges us to care for him regularly. Make it part of your “busyness,” not something you fit in when you find extra time.

Here are some tips. Ask God daily to show you the people others ignore. Read newspapers and search the internet to learn about the problems that cause suffering in our world. Make service trips and peace rallies part of your monthly schedule.

God has given you the power to change the world for people who suffer like Lazarus. Who’s lying outside your door?

The Question of the Week

If a word or phrase from the Gospel grabs your heart, sit quietly for a moment, repeating it to yourself and asking God to show you how it applies to your life. Reflect and possibly journal on the following question:

• What’s one thing you do to keep your focus on people like Lazarus?

The Song

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