Daily Gospel Reflection for March 17, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Fr. Edward Looney

Today's Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

The story of the rich man’s death might make us think about our own life and readiness for death. The rich man, seeing how Lazarus was escorted by the angels while he was in torment, brought him to begging Abraham to send someone to warn his family about what could await them. Abraham replied that they have Moses and the Prophets. We look back at this story and teaching of Jesus and realize that we have 2,000 years of lived Christianity to encourage and inspire us. The people before Christ only had Moses and the Prophets; now we have the teachings of Jesus given to us in the Gospels. Our choice now is to ignore or embrace them.

And if Moses, the prophets, and Jesus are not enough, we have countless stories of Mary’s apparitions and Jesus appearing to saints like St. Margaret Mary or St. Faustina. These messages of private revelation received by visionaries are meant to encourage us in our practice of the faith. The messages often were received when the practice of the faith had become stagnant and religious renewal was needed. What the rich man asks of Abraham, we have received. During this season of Lent, you might wish to explore the messages of Mary or Jesus and see how they are challenging you to live more deeply the Gospel message.

Catholic social media has resurrected the practice of #MementoMori, that is remembering our own death. During Lent we strive to die to ourselves so that we might live. What is holding you back from living the Christian life to the fullest?

Ponder:

What in your life do you need to change so that you will be ready to die?

Pray:

Lord, You know that I love You. Help me love You more. I hear Your voice and listen to Your teachings. Help me to embrace and live them so that one day I may live with You in the Kingdom.

Click to tweet:
God has spoken to us through Moses, the Prophets, Jesus, and Mary. Have you listened to their messages? It is up to us now to live their teachings and messages. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Fr. Edward Looney

Fr. Edward Looney is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, Vice-President of the Mariological Society of America, and author of several books. He is the author of the best-selling Lenten Devotional, A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary. He also hosts the podcast, How They Love Mary.