Reflection for March 16, 2017

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
JER 17: 5-10
PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
LK 8:15
LK 16: 19-31

“Blessed are they who hope in the Lord”

This is today’s responsorial psalm and something I try to think about each day, especially in Lent. As we are in this second week of Lent, I find it important to take a deep breath and look around. Compassion stood out to me as I was looking at the readings for today. This gospel reading is the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. In his lifetime, the Rich Man had beautiful clothes and wonderful food on the table, Lazarus had his dogs to lick his sores. At death, Lazarus was placed beside Abraham, and the Rich Man found himself in Hades, a place of eternal punishment. Going back to the responsorial psalm, Lazarus had hope in the Lord, he felt comfortable with him no matter what. His richness was not in material items like it was with the Rich Man.

How do you treat those around you that are less fortunate than you?

What does being “rich” actually mean?

As Lent continues…I see compassion connected with bravery. While it has even been hard for me to see, God has a plan for all of us. I’ve had an amazing opportunity to read a novel entitled, “Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life with Everything You Have” by Annie F. Downs. One quote has stood out to me when thinking about today’s readings, “When God tells you to be brave, he will make it work. It won’t be perfect. It won’t be easy. But it will be your story and your best story”. Being brave and having compassion is nothing specific, it is doing something that makes you go outside of your comfort zone, something new. God worked for Lazarus because he saw the bravery and compassion he has, and God is working for us each and everyday. This journey of Lent is filled with prayer, reflection, compassion, and bravery. Personally, you can find me smiling at people on West Pine, cracking jokes and listening to life stories every chance I get, what can you do today that you find being brave?

Katrina Ludwig is a junior in the School of Education studying Secondary Education & Social Studies.