(James Tissot: Lazarus and the poor man)
"Lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus . . ."
The Word for Sunday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092516.cfm
We’ve all
had the experience of coming to a red traffic signal, waiting patiently in a
line of cars for the green light, while across from us stands a man with a sign
pleading for money. The sign may say something like “Out of work” or “War
Veteran, need help.” Whatever sort of plea is written there and whatever sad
condition they may appear in, I think we all wrestle with the question, “Should
I give him something? What will he do with
the money anyway? Is he really in dire need or is this just a scam?” Or we can
become somewhat critical and wish he would just go to some agency or temporary
housing to find the assistance he needs. And then, we just drive away.
A while
back I knew a priest who would never fail to pick up a hitchhiker along the
road. We would warn him of the danger of
that but his answer was always something like, “He’s just a guy needing some
help.” I never did hear that he ever had
a problem with anyone he gave a ride to but his stories were interesting.
Our Gospel
this Sunday (Luke 16: 19-31) is a well-known story by Jesus about the stark
contrast between rich and poor. If it
sounds familiar you may imagine scenes from Charles Dicken’s famous tale “A Christmas Story” and the ghostly visit
from Marley to the notoriously stingy Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley was sent from the dead to warn his
former employer about the ultimate outcome of his selfish behavior; his
complacency and indifference towards the visibly poor in his time will lead to
his lost soul. So Marley was sent as a
final warning to Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late or he will end
up like Marley himself, weighed down by the chains he forged in this life. In fact, Dicken’s admitted today’s parable
was an inspiration for his story. But in the end, this last warning came as a
sign of mercy. Who wouldn’t want a
second chance to correct the wrong they have done?
So the
overall theme of our readings this Sunday is both about warning and about
mercy. Jesus addressed this story in
particular to the elite of his time. To
those who had every advantage to do good but used their position and privilege
for their own advancement and flattered reputation he uses a story in which
they may or may not have seen themselves.
Were they so blind and self-righteous they missed the point
entirely? Or, like Scrooge, did they use
this story as an illustration where they had fallen short and begin to change
before it was too late? The answer to that question is now to be answered by
ourselves in regards to our behavior.
So our
first reading from the prophet Amos (6: 1A, 4-7) takes a similar tone. “Woe to
the complacent in Zion . . . stretched comfortably on their couches . . . they
drink wine from bowls . . . they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!”
This is quite a description of lavish surroundings with the intoxicated lying
back on soft cushions, eating grapes and chocolate truffles. They are so caught
up in their luxurious life style they are blind and unmoved by the suffering of
the unfortunate around them. What they
really do care about is trivial and meaningless. I hear the French Queen Marie Antoinette
commenting, “Let them eat cake!”
This
basically sickening image mirrors the story of Jesus told in Luke of the rich
man “dressed in purple garments and fine
linen who dined sumptuously each day.” And daily outside his door was a
poor beggar, starving who would have been willing to nibble even on the scraps
of food the man likely just threw away. You can imagine the man either arrogantly
walked by or stepped over the poor Lazarus or entered another way in order to
avoid even seeing him.
Then, “the poor man died” and “the rich man also died and was buried.”
Death changed everything. The roles are reversed and the suffering Lazarus now
sits in heavenly luxury by the “bosom of
Abraham, “a sign of privileged position. While the rich man now begs for
relief in a place of “torment,
“separated by a vast chasm between himself, Abraham, and the now comforted
Lazarus.
It
certainly answers the question as to whether the nameless rich man (who is us) ever
noticed Lazarus outside his door. Are we
being too hard on him? Well, the story
indicates he very much knew Lazarus since he calls him by name as he now sees
him after death. All the while, he knew
of Lazarus’ suffering but remained complacent to his fate. He could have easily helped him but refused
to do so. His own comfort and reputation
were far more important than to be bothered or inconvenienced by the wretched
poor. Like Scrooge he may have even
wished the poor would “Die and reduce the surplus population!”
Now, we
may somewhat be in shock over the stark lesson portrayed here which may exactly
be Jesus’ intention. Maybe we gasp
trying to imagine such blatant complacency towards human suffering. We might
see the Pharisees either with disgust or embarrassment on their face or
squirming in their position. Sometimes,
the truth makes us uncomfortable yet that becomes the agent of change.
While
there are many among us, myself included, who have given some cash to those
begging along the freeway ramps or city intersections, I think Jesus lesson is
more significant. Both the rich man and
Lazarus are symbols of deeper social inequality and indifference. The solution to poverty and human suffering
in the world is truly complex. Yet, our
overall attitude is perhaps where we begin.
In fact we
may even wonder if my small part really makes a significant difference. Can we change the world and eliminate
poverty and hunger? - Probably not. But we can certainly live a more compassionate
and generous life.
The rich
man wanted to send Lazarus as a warning to his brothers who were apparently
living the life of leisure as well. Abraham’s comment that both Moses and the
prophets have warned the ancients of their indifference to the suffering poor
and that even someone from the dead (the risen Christ) would not change their
hearts is disturbing. We too have been
given the call to mercy from Jesus.
We’ve been reminded about the abundant love that moved the Father to
send his Son to us. We well know that we
have many opportunities to assist and do our part in sharing a portion of our
comfort with the uncomfortable.
So in these
readings, as they always do when Jesus speaks of great inequality and injustice
between humanity, we are invited to see things as God does. God sees potential for change. He knows that he has created us to not be
divided but to see each other as having equal value in his eyes. There is a
special place for the poor and helpless in the heart of God and so there must
be among ourselves as well. Pope Francis reminds us that no one escapes the
responsibility to make a place for the poor at our tables.
Compassion,
mercy, selflessness, humility, generosity, and charity that promote human
dignity are not some kind of new age social justice virtues. They are deeply
rooted values we see enfleshed in the earthly life of Jesus and they become our
way to ultimate salvation.
“My child, remember that you received what
was good during your lifetime . . .” Who is my Lazarus?
O God, who manifest your almighty power
above all by pardoning and showing mercy,
bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us
and make those hastening to attain your promises
heirs to the treasures of heaven.
(Collect of Sunday)
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