The Gospel for this First Sunday after Trinity is from St. Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. The rich man indulged himself and ignored the misery of the beggar at his gate. Eventually, he ended up dead and in torment. By contrast, the poor beggar lived humbly and ended up in paradise. The tormented rich man sought relief for himself and a miraculous warning for his brothers, but he was told that these things were impossible. His brothers would have to heed the guidance already offered through Moses and the prophets.
This parable should serve as a warning to all those who refuse to be spiritually and morally sensitive. God's basic expectations about how to live are clear for all who pay attention. Many great prophets and teachers through the centuries have proclaimed divine expectations. From nature, reason, Scripture, and Christian teaching, human beings have a general awareness that they should honor God and be merciful to their neighbors. We cannot earn our way into paradise, but people are responsible for their moral and spiritual responses to God, and these responses determine our destinies.
Unfortunately, each of us has times when we are spiritually and morally insensitive. We do not always think, speak, or act in accordance with God's will. So we need God's grace and mercy to renew us constantly. May God's grace and guidance available to us through the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel, open our hearts and help us to live mercifully as our Lord has shown us.
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