The rich man, traditionally known as Dives, spent eternity staring across a great chasm separating himself from the Lord (Lk 16:26). How ironic! Dives spent his lifetime constructing this chasm (or gulf) to isolate himself from the poor. Now this gulf, built day by day during his life, could not be undone in eternity.
In the USA, many gulfs have been built to isolate the not-so-poor from the poor. We have suburbs, which the poor can't reach because of distance and low income. We have expensive colleges and professional training, which often serve to exclude those without sufficient income. The high cost of medical insurance often excludes the poor from the treatment they need.
This is not meant so much to criticize those who enjoy these things as it is to make the point that those who have a gulf between themselves and the poor must work harder than ever to bridge that gulf. Charity obliges those with a sufficiency to share with those without (see 2 Cor 8:14). "Woe to the complacent" who do not reach out to the Lazaruses in their midst (Am 6:1).
King Jesus will judge us on our outreach to the poor (see Mt 25:35ff). All Christians are "to be mindful of the poor" (Gal 2:10) and even have "a preferential love" for the poor (Catechism, 2448). Reach out to the poor. Bridge the gulf now, before you have to stare across it forever.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, You made Yourself poor for My sake (2 Cor 8:9). Give me Your heart, mind, love, and ministry to the poor. |
| PROMISE: | "Happy he [...who] secures justice for the oppressed, [and] gives food to the hungry." –Ps 146:5, 7 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, Whose chosen poverty gained us eternal riches. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College