When it’s done, it’s done! It a little bit scary to read the parable about poor Lazarus and the rich man. After they both died, Lazarus went to heaven and the rich man to the netherworld – i.e., the rich man went to hell. Why, because he was rich? Not at all. He went to that terrible place only because he didn’t seize the opportunity given to him to help his brother in need. Jesus never said that the rich man was condemned because he was rich, or because he dressed up so nicely, or ate delicious food. He didn’t end up in hell for his bad behavior, for breaking the commandments, for stealing, for cheating, for lying, for selfish sinful desires -- no, he was condemned because he didn’t help Lazarus; he simply ignored him. Someone confessed once -- Father, I am so sorry for neglecting the opportunity of helping another person in need. That moved me and made me think, because when I confess my sins, when I do an examination of conscience, I focus on the sins I have committed, but I forget about asking for God’s forgiveness for not helping others that He sent my way. And the scary part is that there is no way from heaven to hell nor from hell to heaven -- when it’s done, it’s done. We are called to serve, not to be served. Let us never forget that.
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