Yesterday, I never got around to doing regular office work in the office.  Now, I'm working on my Sunday homily.  I searched for "Lazarus & Abraham picture public domain" in order to find a picture like the one above that I can share with you.

     Before Jesus opened the gates of Heaven, no human beings could go there.  The angels were in Heaven with God, but no human beings who died had yet joined them.  Everyone who died went to the place of the dead:  Sheol (Hebrew), Hades (Greek), Hell (English).  In the Apostles Creed we pray that after Jesus died on the cross, He descended to Hell.  Where did He go and what did He say?  On Holy Saturday, Jesus went to the good section of Hell, the Bosom of Abraham.  He proclaimed the Good News to them.  Soon, God brought the good people who had died to Heaven.  Currently, the Bosom of Abraham is empty.  Only the bad section of Hell remains.

     In Sunday's Gospel, Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a parable that gives us the best description of what the Bosom of Abraham was like.  Since he had not yet opened the gates to Heaven, Abraham was still there with many good people including Lazarus.  Notice that Lazarus was being comforted by Abraham in the good section of Hell while the rich man was being tormented in the bad section.

     The story of Lazarus and the rich man behooves us to choose sides now, before we die.  Jesus recommends that we choose his side so that not only will we be comforted, but we'll experience heavenly bliss with Him.

     Let's pray for one another's intentions.  Here are a few to get us started.

1)  For the conversion of all "bent" people, that they may become followers of Jesus Christ.

2)  For religious freedom everywhere, especially Nicaragua.

3)  For peace in Ukraine.

4)  For those suffering from recent hurricanes.

5)  For students as they continue learning in this new school year.

God love you,

Fr. Jim