THURSDAY 4TH MARCH 2021
SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Luke 16:19-31
SALVATION IS ATTAINED IN HELPING THE POOR
When I was much younger, I thought that money and material things are sources of happiness. When I see people who live in big houses and drive big and expensive cars, I thought that they were the most happy people. I never knew that the rich also cry.
As I grow older, I discover that most rich people who are truly happy are those who are dedicated to the things of God and are sensitive to the needs of the poor.
As the prophet Jeremiah tells us in the first reading, happiness is for those who do not put their trust in their possessions or fellow human beings. True happiness can only come from God. Those who put their trust in God are like the trees planted beside the waters, they are ever green, the blessings of God will never lack in their lives, they will be truly happy.
The rich man in the gospel reading was never happy on earth. Those who are happy do not despise the poor and needy. There are some rich people who do not even know how to get to the poor and needy to reach out to them, they make effort to look for the poor and needy to assist. The scriptures did not tell us that the rich man committed any crime; his sin was that he refused to be sensitive to Lazarus a beggar who stayed at his gate daily.
Giving of alms is one of the lenten observances. Do not allow the lenten season to pass by without reaching out to the poor. You can reach out to a priest to direct you on how to go about it if you are not sure. The water you give the poor to drink now may be what you will need to enter the kingdom of God.
God help us to be sensitive to the poor and needy around us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP
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