Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Parables, as we’ve said before, give a glimpse into the kingdom of God. They bring to life the values – what we’ve sometimes called the kingdom logic – that Jesus proclaims. And they reveal something of the character and heart of God.
In this case, the message is reasonably clear: God cares deeply for those in need and will bring a measure of justice to them in time. This shouldn’t surprise us. Before Jesus was born his mother sang a song that talked about God’s promise and intention to feed the hungry and send the rich away empty.
But I’m not sure the issue is only about poverty and riches. It is also what we see. Note, for instance, that although Lazarus lives just outside the rich man’s door, the man has never noticed him, never paid him any heed, never even acknowledged him, let alone helped him. The dogs were more attentive to Lazarus than this wealthy man.
Yet in the afterlife he knows his name. Apparently the rich man did know of Lazarus’ existence but ignored him, shut his eyes intentionally so as not to have to look at him. Not only that, but in the afterlife the rich man expects Lazarus to do his bidding as a servant, speaking not to him but instead asking Abraham to send Lazarus to him.
Here is the issue of the parable, then. How do we treat others, and especially those in need? Are we even willing to see them, to acknowledge them, to allow their claims on us as fellow human beings and children of God to make a demand on our lives? Much hangs on how we answer this question.
Just one more note: a parable like this can be upsetting because it seems to deal with our eternal destiny and for this reason seems to call into question much of what we may have learned or heard about whether we are justified by faith or works. But, again, keep in mind: Jesus didn’t tell parables to offer a complete definition or even picture of salvation. He told parables to make a point, to offer just a glimpse into the kingdom and heart of God. And what we can tell from this parable is that God wants us to see, to care for, and to love those in need. And if we won’t, then God most certainly will.
Prayer: Dear God, open our eyes to those all around us and especially to those in need, that we may see everyone everywhere as your beloved children. Amen.
A surprisingly awkward discussion came up in my men’s small group a couple of weeks ago about giving money to persons who stand by the road at the major entrances of Downtown Minneapolis. There was no question that we had all seen them. Some of us thought it was right to stop and offer some amount of cash as you are able and willing to give in that moment. One group member felt it was more efficient to give money to an organization that helps the homeless and said he had had hostile responses from roadside homeless persons when he had stopped to suggest that they go to the organization he supports.
Last week I was talking to a young self-identified Christian woman from my Toastmasters club who said that giving money to people on the street was not a good way to encourage responsible behavior.
A couple of years ago I was riding home from a men’s retreat with three others in the car, when we pulled off the highway into our own suburb, there was a youngish man standing on the corner holding a sign saying he was the father of a two year old and needed help. The conversation in the car fell silent as we waited for the light to change… as we drove on in silence I tried justify my own inaction by telling myself that it would have been unfair to obligate my friends to give to the man by digging into my own pocket to help this young father.
Seeing the poor and responding with care and compassion is both the easiest and the hardest thing we are called to do.