The parable in today’s gospel from Luke 16:19-31 (the Rich man and Lazarus) is another of St. Luke’s confronting stories. St. Luke graphically reminds us that we must be aware of and share our resources with people who are suffering and in need. To ignore the needs of others has dire consequences for anyone who follows Jesus Christ. The rich man had many opportunities to reach out to Lazarus and help him. But he didn’t. He was so self-absorbed and complacent that he never noticed Lazarus starving at his door. Sadly, for the rich man his selfishness lands him in hell while Lazarus is carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
If you happen to drive by the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta any evening, you will see homeless men and women gathering on the steps of the church. Some bring pieces of cardboard to sleep on, others have blankets and a few fortunate people have sleeping bags. They spread out over the steps and spill out on to the sidewalk; each preparing a space where he or she can stretch out and sleep. In the morning, volunteers and staff at the Shrine distribute sandwiches and coffee before sending everyone off for the day. Every Saturday volunteers and members of the Shrine provide meals for hundreds of people. And during the winter months the Shrine and Central Presbyterian Church just a few yards away, open their doors to homeless men providing meals, showers, medical care, safety and a warm place to spend the night. Volunteers come from all over the city for the privilege to serve meals and spend the night with people God loves so intensely.
I suppose it is possible to drive by the Shrine and not pay any attention to the people sleeping on the steps. It probably is a little more difficult to walk by and miss this mass of humanity. However, when I was the pastor there, it was impossible for me to ignore what was happening quite literally on my doorstep even if I wanted to. I couldn’t get out the rectory door without tripping over someone. So, when I read the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, I find the rich man's behavior confounding. How was it possible for the rich man to ignore a sick and starving person “lying at his door”? The picture I have is of the rich man dressed in his “purple garments and fine linen” taking a giant step over Lazarus everyday as he went about his business.
The rich man in our parable today was not a bad person but he was grossly insensitive, self-centered and complacent. He had countless opportunities to reach out and help Lazarus. But he did nothing. And so, when they both die, the rich man suffers the torments of hell while Lazarus is “carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham” (Luke 16:22). All of us encounter people in need. Our challenge is to respond appropriately, with compassion, mercy and love. A practical guide for us is found in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.”
God of the poor and the powerless,
you reach out to us,
in every empty hand, in every hungry person.
Teach us to understand sin
not only as doing evil
but also as failing to do good.
Open our eyes to see you,
and our hands to serve you
in everyone we meet.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
you reach out to us,
in every empty hand, in every hungry person.
Teach us to understand sin
not only as doing evil
but also as failing to do good.
Open our eyes to see you,
and our hands to serve you
in everyone we meet.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN
