Now and Later

    Do you remember these wonderful candies? They were up there to some of my all time favorite candies ever! I come to you today in reflecting upon the Gospel reading and the theme of "Now and Later" popped into my head, which obviously reminded me of these wonderful candies. They tasted so good and they lasted literally forever, but to eat them it took a little bit of work on our part. I feel as though the Gospel is giving us the same message today.

    There are two men; the one is a Rich man and the other is a poor man who needs to work hard everyday just to live on earth. Now in our own society, we would say "I wish I was the rich man" but truly why would you want to be the rich man who is so selfish that he is not willing to share even the smallest bits of food? That is where our society is today. We only care about self. Where we live, what our car looks like, how much money we have to go on a tropical vacation. We care only about those things that directly effect our every day lives. Now I am not saying all wealthy people are this way, I am saying that we must take a look at our lives, all of us and see how we are actually living our lives. What is more important, my comfort or my spiritual salvation? What is more important, our pets getting left over food or the homeless family on our street? What is more important, buying our third car or helping out that single mom who's husband died or the father left her to struggle with the children? Finally, what is more important, ourselves or helping each other getting into heaven?

    We have a duty here on earth to bring as many people to heaven with us as possible. If we are not helping Christ out here on earth, or putting God at the top of our lives, well we hear what happens to us today in the Gospel: "The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment..."  We will have eternity in torment, where we can not leave, again let's look at this same scripture: "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." Once you are placed into the pits of torment or the beauty of heaven, there is no alternative. You cannot get out or crossover. The question truly is where do you want to end up?

    God is merciful everyone... but there comes a point where your refusal to accept His love becomes an issue and God will say, "You are with me or you are against me." Sound familiar? Yea, as we get closer to the Reading for Sunday we see that God so badly wants us to be with Him, but at the same token, He wants to have you working to be with Him sooner rather than later! So today, look at your life and see which person you are today. The rich man doomed to Hell with his selfishness or Lazarus (poor man) who has struggles here on earth, but will live forever in Heaven? Think of ways that you can become more like Lazarus, or in helping the Lazarus of our day! Cause you know what? We have to live in the Now and in the Later!!!