LUKE 16:19-31
At that time :Jesus said to the Pharisees, "there was a rich man, who was clothed In purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously everyday. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores,who desired to be fed with what fell down from the rich mans table ;moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abrahams' bossom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bossom. And he called out, 'father Abraham, have mercy upon me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. '"but Abraham said ' Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things;but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in other that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. ' " And he said 'then I beg you father, to send him to my fathers' house, for I have five brothers ,so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. ' but Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them. 'and he said, 'no, father Abraham; but If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. ' He said to him, 'if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced If someone should rise from the dead.' "
REFLECTION..
God can never let us down, whereas people and things can let us down, even when they don't want to or mean to. The rich man in the gospel story let Lazarus down by not caring for him and was, in time, made to pay for it very dearly. As far as it lies in our power we should not let down those who look up to us for a helping hand.
Mother Teresa said "Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead. "
@bonarotti