Luke 16:19-31

When I was with the Diocese of Richmond in VA for my first two years of seminary, I was assigned with a couple of priests at a historic Church in the Portsmouth area. Outside the rectory there was homeless man who lived right around the corner in the alley. I remember how much he tugged at my heart. Every now and then I would sneak some food out to him and we would have a little chat. He admitted that he struggled with alcohol.

Where is this place in our gospel? Is this purgatory or hell? Jewish views of afterlife at the time our Lord died and went to the netherworld was called Sheol in classical Hebrew or Hades in Greek. There are places of comfort and places of pain. The “Bosom of Abraham” was the best part of the netherworld. It was separated by a river from the places of pain where people received punishment for their sins.

The rich man and Lazarus are awaiting final judgment, i.e., Lazarus waits in the Bosom of Abraham (the best part) and Lazarus on the other side of the chasm. They are in Sheol, the place of the dead. Christ descended into Sheol or Hades to usher the righteous into the presence of God. The rich man is in something similar to purgatory, where the dead still communicate with the righteous.

Looking at the moral implications, the rich man ignores the needs Lazarus. It’s interesting that we know Lazarus’ name, but not the name of the rich man. He remains a nameless figure throughout the parable. This seems fitting because when we live selfishly, we forget who we truly are – children of God called to live for others, i.e., to be each other’s keeper.

Lazarus has a name. Every person on this earth, whether poor, rich, color, ethnicity, in the womb, or elderly, has a name. Each person has dignity or worth in God’s eyes. Unfortunately, the rich man was blind to this basic truth.

Lazarus’ name actually means “God helps.” Given his condition, he must rely totally on God. God, of course, wills to work through people, people like the rich man if they are willing to cooperate. Unfortunately, the rich man has a closed heart. He has become callous.

What we have here is a sin of omission, i.e., failing to see that others are made in God’s image and likeness and a willingness to help them. When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Finally, at the end of the parable, we have the line if that won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets (Jewish scripture – Amos – warnings about economic injustice), they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead. This proved true as Lazarus was raised from the dead and some still

1 did not believe! Miracles are helpful for faith, but they do not guarantee it. Faith is a gift from God and must be expressed by serving those around us.

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