Luke 16.19-31

Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the parable of the rich man and the poor man Lazarus, told by Jesus to the Pharisees.

The rich man dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. When he died, he was buried and, in the netherworld, he was tormented, suffering in the flames.

The poor Lazarus was covered with sores and was lying at the rich man's door. He would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. When he died, he carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham, and was comforted.

The rich man begged Abraham for pity, asking him to send Lazarus to cool him. Abraham remembered him that, during his lifetime, he had received good things and Lazarus likewise received bad things. Abraham said that there was a great chasm between them, which prevented crossing from one side to the other.

The rich man begged Abraham again, asking him to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers so that they would not also go to that place of torment. Abraham told him that his brothers had Moses and the Prophets to listen to.

In desperation, the rich man insisted with Abraham, saying that his brothers would repent if someone from the dead came to them. But Abraham told him that if they did not listen to Moses or the Prophets, they would not be persuaded, even if someone rose from the dead.

With this parable, Jesus was telling the Pharisees that the attitudes of the present time had consequences in eternity. The man ended up in that place of torment because he allowed his wealth to make him selfish and indifferent to the needs of the poor, opening an unbridgeable chasm of isolation. He did not recognize that Lazarus was his seventh brother (a number that indicates fullness).

Almsgiving is one of the commitments we make on Ash Wednesday, when we begin Lent. Let us listen to Moses and the Prophets and believe in the One who rose from the dead, Jesus, and let us urgently convert, before selfishness and indifference also make us lose heaven and deserve hell. The concentration of wealth instead of solidarity is a mortal sin that erodes social harmony. May generosity overcome greed. It is to Jesus that we do good when we meet the needs of the poor.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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