For those who live in urban areas, seeing a poor person like Lazarus in St. Luke’s Gospel is a normal scenario. Exit ramps from highways, expressways and freeways are filled with people begging for help due to being homeless or hungry. Whether it is a lone figure or a family, the cardboard signs with dark writing cannot help but catch the eye of those passing by. And, most do just pass by without an offer to help.
In downtown or uptown areas of larger cities the numbers of those in need grow exponentially with either cardboard boxes or pitched tents on streets, bypasses, underpasses or a lone space to the side for housing. It has become a common site and reality of our society which has as its motto: Succeed or Perish.
Many people are afraid of reaching out to those who beg for help, fearing for their safety. Others will give some spare change or dollar bills. I give out $5 gift certificates to fast food restaurants because I know they need to eat. Some churches plan monthly visits to skid row with food, clothing and other essentials to help those in need to cope. Still others will write a check to an organization that deals with homeless, hungry and poor people as a way to show their concern.
The Catholic Church through the work of Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) domestically and Catholic Relief Service (CRS) internationally address both the charitable and systemic reasons for this problem. As a former director of a local diocese CCHD we were able to use donated funds from parishioners to fund non-profit organizations who specialize in changing lives to help eradicate poverty.
The rich man in the Gospel allowed Lazarus to lie at his door to eat scraps from the table, but did not take note of him because he was too busy living a life of luxury. Only in death of both did the rich man, who was in hell, realize what he had done was wrong and tried warn others about the plight of those who ignore those in need.
For us who are called by God to make a life difference for those in need, we either need to continue what we are doing that will help them rise from the ashes of poverty or change our approach to help that systemic change. The usual question I hear from people is: How do I do that? The response from me is quit thinking about it and start doing something because the question is stating that what is happening is not enough. Meanwhile, more people are being added to the impoverished.
As I usually suggest, take this week to investigate what organizations in your area are directly dealing with the marginalized, disenfranchised and impoverished to help them turn their lives around. Reach out to those that have a mission statement or vision that seems to fit your goals and objectives of how you help others. If you find some common ground, go visit to meet with those involved and to get a sense of how it might fit. After that, the decision is yours; either join or pursue another avenue.
The take away from this approach, whether to join or not, is that people can make a difference if they commit to this path, no matter the organization one chooses. That is what God is asking of us. Make a conscious choice to be involved. Share the blessing we received so that they also are able live in God’s peace and joy in His Kingdom on Earth as well as in Heaven.
Reading 1: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
Reading 2: First Timothy 6: 11-16
Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31
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