Today's gospel: "Jesus said to the Pharisees: 'There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’"

From De La Salle: "See how the world acts! People consider only what is externally apparent in a person and pay respect only if they are attracted by what fascinates the eyes of the world. . . For how long has Jesus been presenting himself to you and knocking at the door of your heart to make his dwelling within you, and you have not wanted to receive him? Why? Because he only presents himself under the form of a poor man, a slave, a man of sorrows." (Med. 85.1)

I wonder how much poverty we tend to overlook in our students because they wear professional dress and conduct themselves well, especially with visitors and at work. The General Council reminded us in the Lasallian Reflection for 2015-2016 that there is, as well, a struggle not just with economic poverty, but the poverties of isolation, abandonment, exclusion, those with mental and physical problems, and those who live without God, or without hope or trust in their lives. I wonder also how much we overlook in those who are not "on our radar" because their grades are A's or B's, or because they always turn in their homework and do not need tutoring assistance. Both today's gospel and De La Salle's reflection teach us that we need to look beyond what our eyes show us, and see with our hearts. The needs of our sisters and brothers are in directly in front of us, with no need for enlightening miraculous events, but only the ability to see past the external and what society tells us is important. Perhaps this week, we need to ask ourselves what we know of those students we do not regularly talk about, those who have the middle range of grades: the ones who will not get the call home, the congratulatory recognition, or special attention.

Live, Jesus, in our hearts!