A while back, my siblings and I started a tradition of getting together for a meal and wholesome conversation every few months. It’s just us, those who grew up together under the same roof with the same two parents. I do not take for granted how fortunate I am that all eight of us live within a 40 mile radius of each other. I know there are families that have only two children and one lives on the east coast and one on the west, only seeing each other once a year over the holidays.
God has allowed us this time of adult siblinghood to share with each other, listen to each other, and support one another. Something that was brought up recently at one of these gatherings is that none of us are well off. We all either live paycheck to paycheck or at least do not have the means to live luxuriously. We went on to consider that perhaps that is on purpose, so that each of us would have the opportunity to rely heavily on the grace of God and never cease to draw close to Him.
Today’ Gospel offers up the familiar story of poor Lazarus and the rich man. In this case, poor and rich referred to their financial status, their spiritual status being quite the opposite. The rich man’s wealth afforded him fine dining and commodities, but also presumption. He no longer relied on God, nor had a relationship with Him, much less loved Him. Lazarus, however lacking in human comfort, was more than rewarded in eternal life as he was “carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham.”
The first reading further drives home this point: “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord… Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters…In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.”
Now I don’t claim to live in some sort of utopia. My family has its issues just like any other family. We have endured three divorces over the past three years, separated parents, and members dealing with addiction, mental illness and chronic health problems. We have people who are overworked and underpaid, children who are not angels, and tempers that are not tempered. Yet through it all, we are there for each other, and we try to help each other turn our hearts toward God and put our hope in Him. I pray that no matter what kind of family situation you find yourself in, you may be blessed to do the same. For “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm Response)
Hace un tiempo, mis hermanos y yo comenzamos la tradición de reunirnos cada tres o cuatro meses para compartir una comida y una conversación agradable. Solo somos nosotros, los que crecimos juntos bajo el mismo techo, con los mismos padres. Valoro enormemente la fortuna que tengo de que los ocho vivamos a menos de 65 kilómetros de distancia. Sé que hay familias con solo dos hijos, uno que vive en la costa este y otro en la oeste, que solo se ven una vez al año durante las fiestas.
Dios nos ha permitido disfrutar de este tiempo de hermandad adulta para compartir, escucharnos y apoyarnos mutuamente. Algo que surgió recientemente en una de estas reuniones es que ninguno de nosotros tiene una buena situación económica. Todos vivimos al día o, al menos, no tenemos los medios para vivir con lujos. Al reflexionarlo, pensamos que capaz es a propósito, para que cada uno de nosotros tenga la oportunidad de depender plenamente de la gracia de Dios y de acercarnos siempre a Él.
El Evangelio de hoy nos presenta la conocida historia del pobre Lázaro y el hombre rico. En este caso, pobre y rico se referían a su estatus económico, mientras que su estado espiritual era todo lo contrario. La riqueza del hombre rico le permitía disfrutar de comidas exquisitas y comodidades, pero también de arrogancia. Ya no confiaba en Dios, ni tenía una relación con Él, y mucho menos lo amaba. Lázaro, aunque carecía de comodidades humanas, fue recompensado con creces en la vida eterna cuando “los ángeles lo llevaron al seno de Abraham”.
La primera lectura refuerza esta idea: “Maldito el hombre que confía en el hombre, que en él pone su fuerza y aparta del Señor su corazón.… Bendito el hombre que confía en el Señor y en él pone su esperanza. Será como un árbol plantado junto al agua… en año de sequía no se marchitará ni dejará de dar frutos”.
Ahora bien, no pretendo vivir en una utopía. Mi familia tiene sus problemas, como cualquier otra. Hemos afrontado tres divorcios en los últimos tres años, padres separados y miembros que lidian con adicciones, enfermedades mentales y problemas de salud crónicos. Tenemos personas sobrecargadas de trabajo y mal pagadas, hijos que no son unos santos y temperamentos que a veces se descontrolan. Sin embargo, a pesar de todo, nos apoyamos mutuamente y tratamos de ayudarnos a acercar nuestros corazones a Dios y depositar nuestra esperanza en Él. Le pido a Dios para que, sin importar la situación familiar en la que te encuentres, tengas la bendición de hacer lo mismo. Porque “Dichoso [es] el hombre que confía en el Señor” (Salmo responsorial).
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
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Daily Reading
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Reading 1 Jeremiah 17:5-10 Thus says the LORD:Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,who seeks his strength in flesh,whose heart turns away from the LORD.He is like a…
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