name, and make it known to the end of the world; but the name of the rich man He passed over in silence. "Our Lord," says St. Gregory, "acknowledges and approves of the humble, but He does not know the proud." Learn, hence, to esteem uprightness more than worldly riches or splendor. " The memory of the just," says the Wise Man, " is with praises, but the memory of the wicked shall rot." (Prov. x. 7.)
II. The patience of this saintly poor man was very great. He was covered with sores, and he endured their pain without murmuring. He was extremely poor, "desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table." He was contemned and, despised, "and no one did give him these crumbs." He was so miserable that he suffered the dogs "to lick his sores," or was perhaps too weak to drive them away. Who would prefer so miserable an object as this to the rich man, "who is clad in purple and feasts sumptuously every day?" Our Lord and Master, however, did so.
III. Lazarus died happily, for he was immediately " carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." Thus the tribulations of the just are short, but their reward is eternal. What joys, riches, and honors did not pain, poverty, and contempt procure for this beggar! " Let my soul die the death of the just, and my last end be like to them." (Num. xxiii. 10.) Ponder how different were the situations of the rich man and Lazarus after death; this difference was certainly greater then than during their lives. The rich man was happy for a moment, but everlasting misery followed; Lazarus was wretched for a short time, but his wretchedness was followed by everlasting glory. Choose that which you would wish to be your portion; the choice is in your power now; it will not be so, long.
