# God is not outdone by evil
*2018-03-01*

> Reflecting on the second Thursday of Lent, Bill Young discusses the dangers of spiritual pride and the importance of compassion in the wake of tragedy.

## Finding Hope in Tragedy

Our topic today is that God is not outdone by evil. This feels especially appropriate given the news coming out of Parkland, Florida. In the wake of the massacre and the loss of seventeen souls, we have seen many brave heroes emerge. I hope that from this horror, good will come in the form of better gun control. It is encouraging to see high school students and parents lobbying in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., and to see major companies changing their policies regarding the age for purchasing firearms. We must continue to work toward banning assault rifles and automatic weapons that are not meant for hunting.

## The Sin of Indifference

In the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31), we read the story of the rich man in the purple coat and Lazarus. In those times, purple cloth was a great luxury, obtained from a costly dye from a sea animal, marking the man as very wealthy. Throughout his life, this man ignored Lazarus, who lay outside his gate; he didn't even give him scraps, while his dogs fared better than the poor man. After death, their positions are reversed: Lazarus is in heaven, and the rich man is in torment.

St. Jerome offers a profound insight here: the rich man is not specifically accused of greed, theft, or adultery. His only guilt was pride—the pride of indifference. When you see a fellow human lying outside your gate and you have no compassion, you are ignoring God's laws. St. Jerome reminds us that we should not necessarily throw away our wealth, but we should give the 'crumbs' from our table as alms. The name Lazarus means 'one who has been helped,' and it leads us to ask: who needs my help today, and what can I do for them?

## The Power of Prayer for Sinners

As we continue our Lenten meditations, we are reminded of the immense power of prayer. There is a particular beauty in praying for the conversion of sinners, especially those who are unrepentant and nearing death. We trust that these prayers are always heard and answered by the Lord, in His own way and in His own time. Let us always remember to pray for others, trusting in the words: 'Jesus, I trust in you.'

## A Journey Toward Mercy and Consecration

Looking ahead, we are preparing for a series of spiritual retreats. We will be beginning the '33 Days to Merciful Love' do-it-yourself retreat, concluding prior to Divine Mercy Sunday. Following that, we will move into the '33 Days in Morning Glory' retreat in preparation for Marian consecration. These journeys are designed to renew us and deepen our relationship with the Blessed Mother and the Heart of Jesus.

*The greatest evil is often not what we do, but the compassion we fail to show to those in need right outside our own gates.*