If there ever was a parable that should
keep us awake at night, it is today’s story of the rich man and Lazarus. Most of us
would prefer not to think too much about this parable because we are quite rich
compared to many in the world. So, we may
try to convince ourselves that we really aren’t rich, since our cars are
several years old, or we don’t have latest electronic devices. Then, we might skip over this parable and
other teachings of Jesus concerning our responsibility to those in need. We are
very much like the rich man in our ability to see only those teachings of Jesus
that we want to see.
All over the world, those who have much
in terms of the world’s goods turn a blind eye toward those who have
practically nothing. But, as we reflect on this parable, we
realize that our riches and our freedom create a special obligation for us
toward those in need.
Jesus said in his parable that Lazarus
“was laid” at the rich man’s gate. He was an invalid who had to be laid there.
Lazarus was totally helpless. There were no welfare programs. He had no family
to care for him. All he could do was beg, but the rich man couldn’t be bothered
even to share a few coins. He refused to even acknowledge Lazarus’ existence.
But, there was one who did notice. God noticed. Luke tells us when Lazarus died, “The
angels carried Lazarus to Abraham’s side.” What a beautiful image. It wasn’t friends or concerned neighbors who
carried Lazarus home at the end of a long day of begging. It was the angels.
God cared about Lazarus.
This parable demonstrates how
differently we see the world from the way God sees it. For, in Jesus’ story, it is Lazarus who made a name
for himself and the rich man is anonymous. We know Lazarus’ name, but not the
name of the man who ignored him. Lazarus knew God and was known by God. His
very name, Lazarus, means God is my Help or Helper.
“By naming Lazarus and not the rich man,
Jesus’ story completely contrasts with worldly understandings of who’s who. Jesus reminds
us that heaven is the opposite of this world in many respects, especially when
it comes to an individual’s worth in society.
God also noticed the actions of the rich
man who refused to notice the poor man at his gate. The rich man
was in hell because God noticed him. But why did God deal with him so
harshly? There is no record of a vicious, glaring sin. He was not cruel, as far
as we know. He never ordered Lazarus from his gate or refused Lazarus the
crumbs from his table. He was not a tyrant; not an oppressor of the poor, not a
monstrous member of society. Rather, he may well have been an upright citizen, respected and well liked. No
earthly court would ever think of arresting or condemning him. In society’s
eyes he was honored and highly esteemed. What then was his sin? His was the sin of not noticing.
How often do you and I take time to notice the people around us--their
needs and their concerns? Not just the homeless people asking for handouts
on a city street, but the lonely teenager who lives down the street or the
young mother trying to keep her family together after her husband has abandoned
her. How often do we notice the elderly person whom no one visits; the jobless
guy who is being left behind by a culture that no longer values his talents? How often do we notice the person sitting just
a short distance from us in the pew who has just received a devastating report
from a doctor? Do we even notice what
other people around us are going through?
It is a sin
that afflicts all of us to one degree or another, and yet we rarely talk about
it. It
is the sin of self-absorption. It is the sin of being so preoccupied and so
busy with our own cares and concerns that we give no thought to the problems of
those about us.
There are
times in our lives, spiritually, when each of us is a beggar lying at the gate
totally helpless, and Christ notices us and Christ loves us just as we are. As we remember that
truth, that compassion, that grace, Christ calls us to look around and see
someone who needs our attention, our compassion, our love. And this person
might just remember our generous attention when he or she is in the position to
help someone else.
As the rich
man learns in today’s parable, the distance between ourselves and God in the
next life may be the distance we put between ourselves and those in need in
this life. We may not be rich men or exploiters of the poor, but each of us should
take to heart the persistent message of Jesus – that what we have and desire to
have can separate us from God and our neighbor; that our possessions can come
to possess us; and that true riches are to be found in sharing what we have
with the poor. Don’t be like the rich man who
will forever be remembered as the person who refused to notice. Look around you today; find someone who
needs your love.
