The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Lk 16: 19 – 31

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

Today’s Gospel talks about the fate of two people in the afterlife. Apparently, the one who was rich was punished and tormented in the fires of hell. The other, named Lazarus, was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The Gospel

¹⁹ “There was a rich man^[a] who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. ²⁰ And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹ 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. ²² When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and from the netherworld,^[b] where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ²⁴ 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.’ ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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.’ ²⁷ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ ^30 [c]He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ ³¹ 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.’”

Reflection

Today’s gospel speaks to us about two people. One was rich and the other was poor. The poor man’s name was Lazarus. Notice how Luke gives a name to the poor man while practically leaving the rich man anonymous.

Luke is also keen in describing the lifestyles of both. The rich man was dressed in purple and fine linen; clothes which perhaps are the equivalent of today’s signature clothing like Versace, Armani and Christian Dior. The rich man also feasted everyday while the poor man Lazarus lay by the gates of the rich man, waiting to eat the scraps falling from the rich man’s table.

Then, both people die. The rich man goes to hell while Lazarus joins Abraham in heaven.  It may seem strange that the rich man goes to hell simply because he was rich. In fact, Abraham seems to echo this when he tells the rich man: “ My son, remember that in your lifetime, you were well off…”

While Luke doesn’t directly identify what sin the rich man committed while he was alive, he apparently points out the rich man’s lack of concern, disinterest and indifference to Lazarus’ condition and poverty. Apparently, this indifference and lack of concern were enough to merit for him punishment in hell. Luke also doesn’t mention whether Lazarus lived a virtuous life or not. But he does mention Lazarus’ destitution and misery.

It is also worth noticing that when the rich man called and requested for some relief from Abraham, Abraham declined to help not because he didn’t want to, but because there was a huge chasm that separated them, practically telling the rich man that there was no way for anyone from either side to get to the other side.

Lastly, it is also worth noting that the rich man wanted to warn his brothers who were still alive by requesting Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them. Abraham again refuses and tells the rich man that his brothers already have the Law and the prophets – which also refers to basically, the Word of God.

From this parable, we can get the following insights:

First, the rich man’s indifference and disinterest for the plight of poor Lazarus didn’t earn him a place in heaven. More importantly, however, the parable somehow quietly points out the scandalous nature of superabundance existing side by side with poverty and destitution. The gross inequality between rich and poor is scandalous and is already judged in this parable as evil. This is perhaps why the rich man goes to hell simply by living his superabundant life amidst a sea of poverty and destitution.

Second, Luke seems to suggest that poverty and destitution, and the sufferings that go with it, somehow contribute to meriting heaven. Pain and suffering, which in Jesus’ time was considered a curse for evil doing, here becomes a path towards blessedness. Luke, who insists that entering through the narrow door is the only way to eternal life, reinforces this message.

Third, a great divide or a great chasm exists between heaven and hell. While this may really be true in the after life, it should also be seen as an allusion written by Luke to refer to something else. This great distance between heaven and hell somehow alludes to the great distance that rich indifferent people create between themselves and the poor. The great divide between rich and poor is in fact a great chasm created by the greed and covetousness of many rich people.  

Lastly, the ending of this story somehow teaches us that the Word of God, here referred to by Jesus as the Law and the prophets, contains everything we need to know to go to heaven. It is all written there. Ignorance of God’s word becomes an ignorance to the path leading to eternal life.

The Word of God teaches us how to live; to live and be concerned for the needs of others especially the poor; to live and learn to share one’s abundance so that others may live; to live and learn to adapt a simple lifestyle so that our hearts may not become dependent on the material goods of this earth.

Our faith is one that does good deeds. Indifference prevents our hearts from truly loving and reaching out to those who are most in need.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I see poverty everyday when I walk through the streets. Poverty is everywhere and many people suffer because they are poor. But I have gone accustomed to them and somehow have become indifferent to their plight. Teach my heart dear Lord to be mindful of the poor, to keep my ways simple so I may not overindulge in anything while others are dying because of poverty. Teach me to read and ponder your word, so that I may know the path that leads to eternal life. Amen.

“ For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”   – 2 Cor 8: 9