The rich man in our Gospel today had everything he wanted in this world. For every meal, he had rich foods in abundance. His every material need was met. Yet, spiritually, where was he? Did he hear the cry of the poor? Did he those who were suffering in his midst? He passed by poor Lazarus each day, but the pain and struggles that Lazarus was going through were something he never even noticed.
St John Joseph of the Cross was born in the kingdom of Naples in Italy in the middle of the 17th century. He was very ascetic even as a young man, practicing severe forms of self-discipline and abstention. At the age of 16, he joined the order of Friars minor of the Franciscans. His reputation for holiness prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even before he was ordained to the priesthood. He later served as novice master and provincial in his order. His years of mortification enabled him to offer these services to the friars with great love and charity. Yet, he always served in these leadership roles in simplicity and humility, even performing menial tasks. He died in 1739.
We can follow Jesus in a life of humility of service. Or we can follow in the footsteps of the rich man in today’s Gospel, ignoring the cry of the poor and the needs of others. The choice is ours to make.
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