Drop of Water
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 16:19-31 - Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and 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. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Notice that the rich man was a Jew. He calls Abraham his “father,” and Abraham tells him that his family has Moses and the prophets to listen to. But it isn’t simply enough to be part of the right religion. Many Catholics today have this problem. They are part of the true Church, but they don’t care to learn or to live out its moral teachings. They don’t realize that they have a greater responsibility than others to live to a high standard. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48).
We have to be very clear that our Catholic Faith isn’t worth much if it is just a badge we wear. It needs to penetrate deeply into our minds and our hearts. It needs to be present in our lives. Are we Sunday Catholics? Are we cafeteria Catholics? Or are we genuine Catholics? The real Christian life is a dynamic and beautiful one. God wants to be in you and have you in Him. In what practical ways are you opening yourself to God each day?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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