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 every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. 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 at his side. And he called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on 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, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad 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 order that those who would pass from here to you may not do so, and none may cross from there to us.” And he said, “Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s 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 hear 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.” ’

The indifference of the rich man is the fruit of a shallow life, one without depth, focused only on pleasure and fleeting sensations. A gluttony not only of food but also of emotions, gossip, and criticism… labelling reality and stripping it of hope: “Lazarus is just lazy,” “our marriage has no future,” “there’s nothing to be done with my son”… Such labelling distances me from true understanding, from wisdom, and from conscience. Ultimately, it distances me from the Holy Spirit, who dwells at the very centre of my soul, leaving me to live instead on the shallow periphery of feelings and desires.

Applied to Married Life

Peter: It really hurts that Luke and Mary organised a dinner without inviting us.
Victoria: I can understand it. Lately we’ve been very focused on our marriage and on the children.
Peter: But we used to be so close…
Victoria: Perhaps more in the sense of shared hobbies and distractions than real intimacy.
Peter: True. With our couples’ group, there’s a far deeper connection.
Victoria: And with our children too. Just today, Paul thanked me for yesterday. He said he felt truly welcomed and listened to in his pain after breaking up with Claire.
Victoria (after a pause): Shall we pray? We need to thank God for keeping us grounded in the truth and for helping us to recognise the suffering of those closest to us.

Mother,

Teacher of suffering at the foot of your Son’s Cross, pray for us. Praise be to the Lord!