We hear what we want to hear

‘Abraham said, “Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them; your brothers should listen to what they say.” The rich man answered, “That is not enough, father Abraham! But if someone were to rise from death and go to them, then they would turn from their sins.” But Abraham said, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from death”.’ (Luke 16:29-31)

Read Luke 16:19-31

Are we listening to the Lazaruses of this world? Do we want to hear about their plight?

I heard a radio interview where a person said, ‘There were eight thousand men and boys killed in Kosovo, yet we didn’t do anything about it. We saw many die in East Timor before we helped. But because the World Trade Centre was attacked—the centre for the rich—we wake up. We think of how it will affect us.’ We don’t look beneath the surface to see what really makes someone go to such lengths to be heard.

I thought, ‘How true!’ Australia is a ‘lucky country’, but what do we do for the suffering people of the world, or even in our own country. We are like the rich man who didn’t see the need of the poor person at his door. Oh yes, we give a few ‘crumbs’ to world relief agencies. We give a few crumbs and expect people to be grateful.

We hear what we want to hear. We don’t want to leave our comfort zone. Remember what Christ said: ‘Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’ (Matthew 25:40).

Dear Lord, forgive me for not seeing, for not listening to the ‘Lazarus at my door’. Take me out of my comfort zone, and help me remember that what I do for others I do for you. Amen.

by Merna Thamm, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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