The Rich Man and Lazarus, Codex Aureus of Echternach, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremburg, Germany.

[Jesus said to the Pharisees] “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table….”           Luke 16:19-21a

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Over the centuries the rich man in this very famous parable has been given a name: Dives (Dy-vees), and so it has been referred to as the parable of Dives and Lazarus. That way there is no confusing this Lazarus with the Jesus’ friend Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead. Also, the point Jesus makes here is crystal clear (unlike last Sunday’s). It is very hard to imagine such a man as this rich one passing Lazarus each time he left and entered his house without doing anything for him. Inconceivable in fact. But one supposes there are, indeed, people like that even in today’s world. Certainly there are examples of that in the nations of the world. And to judge from the first reading today, from the prophet Amos, who lived about 760BC in a small village just south of Jerusalem, such a situation was all too common even then. Jesus himself said we will have the poor always with us (Matthew 26:11). And we do, 2000 years later! 

Beggar in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Today’s second reading talks in the same way: “to keep the commandment without stain or reproach”. And Jesus’ supreme command was to love one another and all that that implies, even having to sacrifice for another’s good. In the parable, poor Lazarus died and is taken off by angels to “the bosom of Abraham”. This expression is tantamount to eternal happiness. It finds its highest expression only in this parable and implies a deep, blessed, and privileged connection with Abraham, the father of all Hebrew people, representing a place of comfort and honor for the righteous dead. It stands in stark contrast to the suffering of the rich man now in hell, begging for relief which is not forthcoming. He eventually suggests a way for his brothers to avoid his punishment, even suggesting that Lazarus return from the dead to warn the selfish what awaits them. Then comes the deadly line: “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.”

The command is utterly clear and without obscurity: We are here to help and support each other, now and at all times. It is God’s command, it is God’s wish, and we are to accept it, and allow it to become an integral part of our very existence. There must never be a moment when we think otherwise. Likewise we should hope and pray for an equal response from others, should we be in distress, should it ever come to be. And at that point, we can refer once more to last week’s teaching……

Here is a beautiful hymn which I believe reflects the love this parable calls us to:

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus say…..” Celtic Source Volume 2; Words: Horatius Bonar; Traditional English folk tune, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams: “Kingsfold”. 

 

White Throne Ministries, The Truth About Death. 

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