Dear all,
Yesterday’s gospel reading of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19 – 31) demands introspection of each one of us. As parable, it refers to something more than the literal meaning. The real focus of the parable is not upon Lazarus but upon the rich man. We conclude that the “evil” of the rich man was his indifference to the suffering of his fellow man identified as Lazarus, the meaning of which name is: “God is my help.”
So, what is the “evil” of the rich man, and more in point, just who is the rich man? It would appear that the rich man is each and every one of us. We’re all capable of supreme indifference when it suits our purposes. Just how many Lazarus’s do each one of us come across every day. How many of us console ourselves by saying that we are not rich. Yes, we agree that something should be done for the poor but as we ourselves, have little (or so we think) we leave it to the other whom we consider rich to meet their responsibilities towards the less fortunate.
The truth is we are all rich one way or another. We’re all capable of giving – whether it’s money, a kind ear or a gentle hand – all of us have some talent that we can use towards the Lazarus’s that come across us in our life. I’m reminded of a short story by Tolstoy where people were told that they would be visited by Christ. Expecting glory and majesty they were blind when Christ approached them dressed in rags, or hungry or in need. These good people thought these Lazarus’s as unworthy was they awaited Christ, as king, in all his glory. But, Christ does not enter our lives like that – he comes in weakness reflected in the needs of our brothers and sisters less fortunate than us.
This parable puts us on notice that there are consequences to being indifferent to the need of your fellow man. Indeed, each one of us may say: “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?” Let us not be surprised by the answer. The result of our indifference to our fellow man is self-condemnation. Happy is the man that can recognise his own weakness.
Programme for this week
Wednesday 8th November
7:30 AM to 9:30 AM – Matins and Divine Liturgy (Archangels Michael and Gabriel)
6:30 PM to 8 PM – Vespers for Feast Day of St Nektarios
Thursday 9th November
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Feast Day of St Nektarios
Saturday 27th October
8 AM to 9 AM – Matins in Greek
9 AM to 10:15 AM – Divine Liturgy in English
Sunday 28th October
8 AM to 11 AM – Matins and Divine Liturgy
There will be a cake stall on the feast day. Note there will be no morning coffee on Saturday morning but I would ask if you can assist to come to the hall to prepare for the luncheon.
Please bring your baked offerings for the cake stall either on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning. I look to everyone to make our cake stall a great success.
Luncheon news and raffle
Speaking of our luncheon next Sunday, ticket sales are going well so I would urge you to obtain tickets to avoid disappointment. Also I remind you that our church raffle continues. Please support your Church in its activities.
Thought for the week
From the mind of the great Tolstoy himself “the sole meaning of life is to serve humanity”. If each and every one of us applied this in our daily lives what a far better place this world would be.
Till next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou – 0411 061 554
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