Daily Inspiration

“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.'" -Luke 16:19-31

I have been the rich man dressed in fine linen and the poor man covered in sores. I have lived an eternity suffering torment in flames and another bathed in the power, love, and mercy of God.

But the Lord sent me back to tell my brothers of both places. Here is the truth we all must hear. Both places are real, and we will spend forever in one or the other. Today, we have the chance to change our focus. We are given the opportunity to listen to the Word and repent of our ways.

If given a choice to suffer the rest of my life in pain, covered in sores, or spend a moment without God, I would eagerly choose the pain. Real pain and suffering are found only in the absence of Our Lord. God does not place suffering in our lives, but He does place gifts within our suffering to draw us closer to Him. He leaves it up to us as to whether we open His gifts.

Saint Oswald, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!