Breaking the Word

2^nd week in Lent, Thursday – 17^th March 2022 — Gospel: Lk 16,19-31

No Second Chances

The parable of the “Rich man and Lazarus” can be divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the rich man’s luxury and wealth. The second part highlights his death and burial. The third part builds up the dialogue between the rich man and Abraham. In the third part, the rich man makes three requests to Abraham. Firstly, he makes of Abraham to let Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue. In his response, Abraham reminds the rich man of his and Lazarus’s past and of the chasm that separated them then. Indeed, the separation that the rich man made continues even in eternity. Secondly, he makes a request of Abraham to send Lazarus as a messenger to warn his brothers. It is admirable that even in his torment the rich man can think of others (his own family members). Abraham responds that his brothers have already received enough and more instruction and if they have not heeded that they will not heed another. The rich man tries one final time to convince Abraham to send Lazarus as one who has gone back from the dead. Abraham responds by telling the rich man that for those who believe no proof is necessary and for those who do not no proof is sufficient. In all his requests the rich man pleaded with Abraham for another chance for his brothers, and he even vouched for them claiming to repent. He actually hoped for an emissary that would change his brothers’ minds. However, Abraham’s response categorically denies that there are no second chances after death. Therefore, we need to take every opportunity to be Christ’s hands and feet to serve our brothers today in their concrete reality.

2^nd week in Lent, Wednesday – 16^th March 2022 — Gospel: Mt 20,17-28

Balance of Suffering and Service

Only in the Gospel of Matthew the mother of the sons of Zebedee comes with the request on behalf of her two sons, to make them sit next to Jesus when he sits upon the royal throne. The right hand and left hand symbolize places of honour and authority. In his response, Jesus does not address the mother or even James and John, but all the disciples. He asks them if they can drink of the cup of suffering like he himself will have to drink. Matthew focuses exclusively on the cup of suffering, testing, rejection, judgment and violent death. The metaphor “cup” here seems to refer to the death ordained by God which is willingly accepted by the one who is going to his death.  The disciples’ willingness to drink the cup is only verbal and not possible to show in their deeds. Though Jesus is aware of this, he looks beyond their failure and invites them to share his cup. He tells them that they too will have to face opposition, suffering and even threats of death in order to continue his ministry. Jesus then tells his disciples that what will give them positions of honour in the kingdom of heaven is not where they sit or how much or how well they are served by others, but how much they are willing to serve others. Jesus equates being part of the Kingdom of heaven with being willing to face opposition and at the same time, being willing to serve and help others. Service is the hallmark of the life of a disciple, just as it was the essential part of his master. Service must go all the way to being willing to give one’s life for the sake of another.