There was a rich man 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, 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.’ He said, 30 ‘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.
In ancient Judaism, wealth was considered to be a blessing from God. Material prosperity was a sign of divine favor (Gen. 12:2-3, 13:2; Deut. 28:1-14). The rich man and the beggar were in complete contrast to each other both in life and in death. The beggar had a name, but the rich man was not originally given a name. Tradition gave him the name Dives, the Latin for Rich Man. The rich man was secure in his wealth, well-clothed, and dined luxuriously, while Lazarus was naked, sick, hungry, and excluded. The rich man died, was buried, and went to the netherworld. The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, i.e., given a place of honor at the heavenly banquet. The roles were completely reversed. The rich man was now an outsider suffering in Hades tortured by fire and parched with thirst while Lazarus, who by his current situation was a righteous man, was an insider participating in God’s love and joy in the kingdom of heaven. The rich man begged while Lazarus feasted. The parable was an example of Jesus’ teaching in the ‘Sermon on the Plain’, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry (Lk. 6:20-21; 24-25).”
The rich man, even though in Hades, still viewed himself as superior to Lazarus. He addressed Abraham as Father Abraham but viewed Lazarus, who was now the guest of honor at the heavenly banquet, as an errand boy. He addressed Lazarus by name, so he had been aware that it was Lazarus at his gate to whom he had shown no compassion; “Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh (Is. 58:7)?” The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to ease his suffering, but Abraham informed the rich man that there was an insurmountable barrier preventing those on each side from crossing so his request for relief was denied (vv. 25-26). His tormented situation could not be changed.
The Evangelist was not teaching that the poor were righteous, and the rich were enemies of God. The rich man was not contrite or repentant and asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers who were living similar self-centered lives and who would share his fate unless they changed their ways (vv. 27-28). Abraham told the rich man that his brothers should listen to Moses and the prophets (v. 29). The rich man then wanted Abraham to send someone from the dead to them, but Abraham responded, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead (vv. 30-31)." This was a reference by Luke to the risen Lord.
Almighty God, fill our hearts with humility, compassion, and love so that we may live according to the teachings of Christ. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
Comments