Stewardship

Recall Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:19-31. Lazarus, destitute and covered with sores, laid outside the door of a rich man’s home and would have been content with the scraps from his table. But the rich man neglected to notice Lazarus until it was too late.

“Consider the possibility that in today’s society our problem is not that we don’t see Lazarus the beggar,” writes Randy Hain. “We see him, accept his plight, and either throw money at him or ignore him.”

In biblical times, people were most likely seeing, touching, and talking directly with the people to whom they were giving alms and showing mercy. Today, because of population growth, economic segregation within our cities, physical distances, and advances in technology, our almsgiving and acts of mercy are “too often reduced to a point-and-click exercise on the computer,” writes Hain.

This Catholic Update raises our awareness of the Church’s teaching on the corporal works of mercy today, and provides seven concrete ideas that can help us develop the courage and commitment to bring a Christlike attitude to Lazarus—and act on helping him.