THAT gospel parable about the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, reminds us of the danger of the so-called “good life” where due to our status, privileges and other endowments, we tend to live in our own world and can become indifferent and insensitive to the needs of the others. (cfr. Lk 16,19-31)
Let’s be reminded that the privileges, favors and blessings we enjoy
in life are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve and not to be
served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they tend only to
spoil and corrupt us.
We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some privileged
positions or status in life because we tend to think that we deserve more
entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We may even demand them for
us.
This, sad to say, seems to be a common phenomenon these days. It can
affect everyone, of course, but it especially affects the young ones who appear
to be more privileged than those in the previous generations because of the
many new things they are learning and enjoying now. And they feel entitled.
We should banish this temptation as soon as it makes its appearance
felt in us. On the contrary, we should follow the example of Christ who, in
spite of who he was, just wanted to serve.
We should develop the intense desire to have a special concern for
those who have less in life, like the simple and the weak, the sick and
disabled, the children and the poor.
This truth of our faith is somehow highlighted in that gospel
episode where Christ preached about the need to be like little children to
enter the kingdom of heaven, to care and not to despise the little children,
and his intent was always to look after the lost sheep, regardless of the cost
and effort involved. (cfr. Mt 18,1-5.10.12-14)
If we are truly Christian, we should have true and abiding
compassion toward everyone, especially the poor and the needy. But we have to
understand that compassion should have a universal coverage. It should not be
limited to the sentimental aspects of things, nor simply the relieving of the
economic and material needs of people alone.
It should cover the whole range of human needs in their proper order
of importance, foremost of which is our need for God. We have to learn to
distinguish between the pressing and precious needs of man, and to cope with
the tension that sometimes arises in our effort to put these two kinds of human
needs together.
When we happen to have the “good life,” we should take the
initiative to look for ways of how to get involved more in the lives of others,
helping them in any way. Like Christ, our heart should flow always with
compassion, quick to notice the needs of others and to respond to them.
It’s an example that we should all try to imitate. One deep desire
we should have is that of making as some kind of default mode that attitude of
thinking always of the others, wishing them well all the time and doing
whatever we can to help.
It’s obviously not easy to do, but we can always try. With God’s
grace and with our persistent effort, we can little by little and day by day
hack it, such that it becomes second nature to us to think and feel for the
others. That’s what compassion is all about.
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