26th Sunday of Ordinary Time Gospel Reflection Year C


Luke 16:19-31

Usually, in writing reflections, I try to focus on the beauty of the Gospels, in an attempt to incite practice of virtue, love of God, vigor for the faith…things of that nature. Today however, I’m going to put on a different lens.

After reading The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man will forever take on a new meaning for me. Before I explain why, please keep in mind that The Dialogue belongs to what the Church calls “private revelation.” This means that we are not bound to believe it; that it does not add to the Deposit of Faith or the Revelation of God’s Word; and is not necessary for salvation. That being said, private revelation can offer material for our personal reflections and meditations, and so I hope you will understand my use of it here.

The Dialogue is a series of conversations between God and the soul. In the “Treatise of Discretion,” we find this parable, used to illustrate how the damned are unable to desire good. Our Lord tells the soul that “because the life of man has ended, free-will is bound.” Therefore, if one dies in hatred, freely-willed, then they will forever be bound to hatred. He says also that the pains will increase of those who caused the damnation of others. Here the rich man is brought in. When he saw Lazarus and begged him to warn his brothers, it was not out of love, of which he was deprived, for a damned soul cannot do good for their neighbor. So what was his reason?

This is what He answers: “...because he was the eldest, and had nourished them up in the same miseries in which he had lived, so that he was the cause of their damnation, and he saw pain increased to himself, on account of their damnation when they should arrive in torment together with him, to be gnawed forever by hatred, because in hatred they finished their lives.”

Reflect upon these things in your heart. How can you grow more attentive to your family, friends, and neighbors?


Although we may not always see them, who is lying at your doorstep, and how can you respond to their needs?

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