Responding to the Needs of the Needy among Us

In today's gospel, Luke 16: 19-31, Jesus tells the Pharisees about the rich man "who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and [who] dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would  gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores."  Both men died, one entering heaven and the other hell.  From hell, the rich man "saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." He begged Abraham to "[s]end Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool [his] tongue, for [he] was suffering torment in [the] flames [of hell]."  Abraham reminded the rich man that on earth he enjoyed good things while Lazarus endured bad things and here in eternity the reverse happened because of the choices the rich man made on earth of ignoring the poor and needy whom he could have helped.  He is now suffering while Lazarus is being comforted.  Then the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers, "lest they too come to this place of torment."  Abraham responded that if his five brothers did not listen to the prophets neither could "they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead."

Am I, are you, responding to the less fortunate when we easily could do so, or are we ignoring them, too busy or too complacent to be bothered with anyone but ourselves?

Lord, open my eyes to the poor and needy whom I encounter, or could encounter, each day and to ways that I am able to help them or make a positive difference in their lives, especially members of my own family or religious community! Also, Lord, have mercy on those who are living as did the rich man, ignoring or despising those who are poor and needy, especially despising children and the elderly who are in need of mercy and love and compassionate responses of those capable of being helpful to them! Also, Lord, may each of us listen to "prophets" in our  lives who point us to what is right and our responsibility to build up your kingdom here on earth!