Hello everyone! My name is Elise Brooklyn and this is Scattering Flowers, a podcast where we scatter flowers of faith.
I’m so happy to be with you reading the daily gospels together.
Let’s get started! Today is Thursday, March 20th, and we’ll be reading Luke 16, 19-31.
Follow along in your Bible if you have one.
Now, let’s read Luke 16, 19-31.
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.
Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s balsam.
The rich man also died and was buried.
And in Hades being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his balsam.
And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things.
But now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
And besides, all this between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.
And he said, Then I beg you, Father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that they may ward them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
But Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them hear them.
And he said, No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.
He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.
Today’s reading makes me think about how I need to be nicer to people right away.
It shouldn’t take multiple times to make a decision to give those in need.
When I already have so much, I think I want to look around my room and in my heart to examine and see how I might be able to be kind and helpful to others, and not just those who have less fortunate.
Maybe I can help my mom around the house without her needing to remind me or ask.
She’s not poor, but she sometimes can use some extra help.
Maybe I can help my brother clean up his room.
He’s not poor, but cleaning up together can make it more fun and go a little quicker.
Or maybe I can help my dad wash his car or take the cans out.
He’s not poor either, but it’s just nice to be helpful to others.
I think Jesus is saying happiness comes from living a life of love and helping others, not money.
Can you find a way to give more freely to others?
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to be kind to others, not only in our actions, but in our words.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
I’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!