Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 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.’

 

Today we conclude our nine day Novena for Papa Benedict.  Today we say goodbye to Benedict as leader of the Catholic Church and usher in a new era.  What is this new era? Nobody knows.  That is why Benedict yesterday asked us to not only pray for him as he begins his new journey, but for the new Pope and mother church.  The world would have us believe that Benedict is the rich man in this story, but in fact, Benedict reflects the characteristics of Lazarus, a humble servant of the Lord, someone who reluctantly took on the role as Pope to lead the church through this time in her history.  God bless Pope Benedict and all he has done for the church. Today, at one o’clock central, noon mountain and two eastern, the lights will be turned out for the last time.  When the church awakes tomorrow, the Seat of Peter will be empty and the church will mourn the loss of a great leader, yet be joyfully anxious to see who her new leader will be.  Our prayers must cease for Benedict or for Holy Mother Church.

 

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, Benedict, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.

Amen.

V/ Let us pray for Benedict, the Pope.
R/ May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and not hand him over to the power of his enemies.
V/ May your hand be upon your holy servant.
R/ And upon your son, whom you have anointed.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be …

A Simple Prayer

 

O God, you loved us so much that you gave us your only son to sacrifice his life for us.

Strengthen our will so that we can live like Christ and be a sacrifice for others.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon