Am I really that awful?

Do I have something that needs to be confessed here?  Have I ignored the poor, the hungry, the homeless?  Am I living in luxury and pretending the poor don't exist?

I don't know.  Only you and God can have that discussion, but it is a discussion well worth having.  Where does Jesus show up in your checkbook?  your bank statement?  the walking around money you spend each week?  Is my money my money for my pleasure and not God's tool to help mend the world?

The rich man knew Lazarus' name, knew he lived right outside his gate, and ignored him until they both died.  The consequences of the rich man's actions were eternal - Lazarus sat with Father Abraham and the rich man sat in torment.  It was a complete reversal of how it had been.

But it doesn't say we must continue to act this way.  We can hear this word and examine our lives and walk in a new direction, listening for God's guidance and trusting in God's presence in our journey.  In matters large and small we are called by God to care for the poor, to be a part of the healing of the world.  Today you can act differently than yesterday....we have the power to re-write the ending of the Lazarus story.

Today is a good day to begin.