By Kate Walsh Soucheray

“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.” ~ Luke 16:31

Serving the Poor Among Us

When we hear this Gospel reading at Mass, we may think it is an invitation to serve the poor among us or to give money to the homeless on the streets. Is that the underlying message of this passage? Or could there be a deeper and more compelling message for us?

The Hebrew people were expected to care for ‘widows, orphans, and resident aliens’ and see that they had what they needed to be treated as members of the Kingdom of God. There is no indication from the reading that the rich man had done anything morally wrong or that Lazarus had done anything morally right. And yet, to Jesus, whose main message was the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God on the earth, the care of those who are less fortunate is always a moral issue. If we make the poor among us invisible so we are comfortable, this is not contributing to Jesus’ Kingdom, and we are not living to fulfill His primary mission for each of us on this earth.

In our overly-busy lives, as school is well underway and work is heating up, how do we find time to attend to the needs of others when our own needs may be overwhelming? Simply seeing others may be a place to begin. If something makes you uncomfortable, do not look away to avoid taking responsibility to make the situation for the other person better. If you know you have a way of helping someone in need, you may reason that you do not have the extra money this month to help them or the time to offer a helping hand. If someone at your Church shares that there will be a Toy Drive for children in your community at Christmas, it may be tempting to think you do not have the time or energy to shop for one more person this year.

There Are So Many Ways to Serve the Poor

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “the Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods,” (2547). Is He describing us? Are we the ones who find consolation, comfort, and relief in the goods we possess at the expense of the poor among us? What can we do today to meet the needs of someone who is impoverished in some way? Perhaps they are lonely or without family, and we have the opportunity to invite them for a meal, or even to share Thanksgiving or Christmas with us? Perhaps we have the financial means to choose a family from our parish to provide Christmas gifts for the children this year? Or perhaps we can offer rides to someone who has an appointment to attend and no transportation to help them arrive on time.

There are so many ways to help others, and just like the rich man in this Gospel story, we have the time and opportunity to respond to the needs of others in a loving and kind way, thereby helping to bring about the Kingdom of God in that one, seemingly small encounter.

Prayer

Dear Lord, give me the grace to develop the desire to help the poor within my life. Whatever their poverty is, help me to see it through the eyes of love and do all I can to alleviate their pain. Please place within my heart what it is you want me to do, and give me the courage to step into the work you have for me.

Call to Action

Make an active choice today to live your faith in loving ways by seeing the needs of others and meeting those needs in small or big ways, whatever God sets before you. Be open to whatever He asks and do not be afraid if it seems bigger than you can handle. His grace, working in you and through you, will bring your work to a successful completion.

© 2025 WINE — All Rights Reserved