"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores” (Lk. 16:19-20).
“If someone…sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in Him?” (1 Jn. 3:17).
Lord, You teach us in Your parables
To care for the poor and needy,
And to rescue those
Who are in danger of death.
Lord, we know that the rich man
Did not go to hell because he was rich,
But because he ignored the other man.
He thought that because Lazarus had less,
That he was worth less.
He did not love his neighbor as himself.
Lord, prevent Your people
From making the same mistake.
Help us to hear Your voice
In those who need our help.
Help us to respond
To the Lazarus of our day,
The unborn child,
Who is knocking at our door,
And begging at our table,
For the protection of her life.
Lord, we have received Your command.
We have not only Moses and the prophets,
We have Christ, the Gospels, and the Church.
We have the witness of the apostles and martyrs
And saints of all time
Who have given their very lives
To save the lives of others.
May we not fail to see in the unborn
That You, O Lord, are calling for our help.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.