The rich man is "dressed in purple and fine linen;" he feasts sumptuously every day, while Lazarus covered with sores begs, hoping to eat from the crumbs that fall from the rich man’s table (read Lk 16:19-31).

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Both the rich man and Lazarus have died. Their fortunes are completely reversed. Lazarus is now enjoying the higher position – he is in the "bosom of Abraham" – while the rich man is suffering in torment symbolized by the eternal torment in Hades (hell).

Note that the rich man was not punished because he was rich. There is no hint that the man had acquired his wealth dishonestly or even at the expense of the poor.

What is condemned was his callousness, his insensitivity to help the needy as symbolized by the beggar Lazarus.

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Obviously the gospel message does not imply that poverty is a virtue and wealth, evil. With money you can do a lot of good, but you can do a lot of evil as well, e.g., buy people, manipulate through kickbacks and briberies.

The danger with being rich – and this is what Christ warns against – is the excessive attachment and the selfishness that go with it. The sin of the rich was a sin of omission. So wrapped up in his flamboyant, luxurious lifestyle, he omitted to offer even food scraps to a poor man.

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A story is told about an elderly miser who had vast real estate holdings. Suddenly he became extremely ill.

His temperature soared to over 40 Celsius. A doctor was called in but after examining the patient, he said, "Madam, I must tell you that your husband is terminally ill. He cannot possibly survive. All I can suggest to you is prayer."

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Hearing this, the worried husband told his wife, "Go out and find some needy person and give him a gift of money. Then go to church and pray that God may spare my life."

The wife immediately went to the most depressed area of the town and gave a big amount of money to some poor families. Then she went to the nearest church and fervently prayed for her husband’s recovery. Whereupon, the patient’s condition rapidly improved and, like a miracle, within days he had completely recovered.

* * *

When the old miser heard that she had given a big sum of their money to the poor, he was angry. "Why did you do such a thing?" he bellowed. "But you yourself told me to give the money," she told him.

To which he replied, "But with my temperature over 40 Celsius, didn’t you know I was delirious? I didn’t know what I was saying then!"

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You may laugh at the miser’s answer but aren’t we in a way like him at times? Even if we have more than enough material resources, we hold on to them tightly.

One of the best tests of our freedom from attachment to material things is our willingness to share what we have.

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There are indeed so many appeals for help, like the streetchildren, victims of the flood in Central Luzon, people who’re short of money ("kinakapos"). In an effort to ease our conscience, perhaps we tell ourselves that we too are in need of help.

But remember that if God has been more generous to you in terms of talents, resourcefulness, business acumen, isn’t it only proper that you share your blessings with the less fortunate?

What may seem like scraps to us, represents a means of survival for others.

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FAMILY TV MASS – is aired on IBC-13 at 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. every Sunday. This Sunday Mass is sponsored by: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

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GOD BLESS – the following latest donors to "Family TV Mass:" Ms. Rosario Suntay, Talayan, QC; Land Bank Malate, Ester GONZALES, Parañaque; Dr.-Mrs. Roberto SAN LUIS, Florida, USA, CONSOLIDATED System, Inc. c/o Eppie-Batch Joaquin.

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Donations and sponsorships to maintain the TV Mass are most welcome. For inquiries, call tel: 735-9176 or 735-6408. E-mail: belsvd@skyinet.net.