February 29, 2024, Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, Holy Rosary (Luminous Mysteries)

Today, we read in the Gospel the story told by Jesus to the Pharisees of a poor man named Lazarus covered with sores who sat outside the door of a rich man dressed finely and dining sumptuously each day.

When Lazarus died, he was carried away by angels to “the bosom of Abraham” and comforted there. The rich man also died and was buried, and carried to the netherworld, where he was in torment.

From the flames of Hell, the rich man asked Abraham to warn his earthly five brothers what would await them if they didn’t repent.

Abraham replied,
“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.”

Jesus doesn’t say anything about who was the rich man. What matters is that he didn’t care. Lazarus wasn’t his problem to address.

He lost salvation not because of anything he did, or his material richness, but because of what he omitted doing. Because of his indifference and unwillingness to take action.

As Christians, we are — or should be — committed to caring and helping those who are poor and deserve our merciful love.