Lazarus Could Not Help the Rich Man: Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Am 6:1a, 4-7

Ps 146

1 Tm 6:11-16

Lk 16:19-31

 

Amos’ warning is harsh.  His description of the people is contemporary.

“Woe to the complacent of Zion . . .

Lying upon beds of ivory they eat lamb taken from the flock

they anoint themselves with the best oils . . . “

 

Today, Amos would most likely write,

“Woe to the self-obsessed slouched in front of their big screen TVs.

They eat fast food taken from a bag,

wear too much perfume, and inject Botox.”

 

Amos repeatedly stressed social and political ills in general terms that allows him to be read in the context of our own time.  There are social and political ills in every country that cause and contribute to a variety of personal ills.  Individual sin drives social sin and social sin allows individuals more creative opportunities for individual sin.  How much of our current economic situation is maintained by a greed that is both corporate and individual?  “Therefore now they shall go into exile and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.”  Sounds a bit like bankruptcy court.

 

It is a pity that the reading from Paul’s Letter to Timothy didn’t begin with verse 10 rather than verse 11.  Verse 10 includes the well-known observation, “For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through their craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.”  Then we hear Paul’s instruction to Timothy in its proper context, “But as for you . . . .

pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.”

 

It is fascinating that the line  "For the love of money is the root of all evils," is generally misquoted as  "Money is the root of all evil."  The two statements do not mean the same thing. 

 

Money itself is not the root of all evil. Money was a necessity in the ancient world.

It remains a necessity in the modern world.  However, an insatiable drive to obtain more and more of it, a life spent loving, adoring, and worshipping money is the root of much of the world’s evil.  

 

The Gospel parable is sometimes referred to as Dives and Lazarus.  It unique to Luke’s gospel.  The names are important though only one of them appears in the Gospel. 

 

The name Lazarus comes from the Hebrew El azar which means “God has helped.”  “When the poor man died he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.”  God had indeed helped. Tradition gave the rich man the name Dives.  Dives is a Latin adjective for rich.  Thus Dives and Lazarus, The Rich Man and the One God has helped.

 

The first part of the parable describes a reversal of fortune which tells us that  upon his death Lazarus, the beggar, was carried to Abraham’s bosom whereas Dives, who had the most toys when he died, was tormented in the netherworld.

The second half of the parable is a conversation between Dives and Abraham.  Dives is not portrayed as a bad man. He is neither wicked or malevolent. True, he dressed well, ate a fine diet, and lived comfortably, enjoying the rewards of his hard work. But he was not evil.  He was  oblivious.  He was oblivious to the suffering around him.  He didn’t notice it.

 

Lazarus—like the poor in our streets today—was merely a part of the landscape

that was passed by, stepped over, or avoided by crossing the street. Dives did not appear to bear him any ill-will. He was not hostile.  He did not shoo him away.

Lazarus was there but invisible to Dives and the rest of his household.

 

Dives is not without merit.  He accepted that Lazarus could not cross the chasm

to ease his thirst. He didn't protest. He didn't whine. He didn't argue. He didn't plead.  But he wanted to prevent his equally oblivious and blind brothers from suffering the same fate. It couldn't be done. If his brothers wouldn't listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead.

 

Like Dives and his brothers we have Moses and the Prophets. Unlike this rich man and his brothers we also have Jesus who suffered, died and rose from the dead to save us from sin.

 

Why do we not listen to Him either?  

 

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The photos are from Ljubljana.  When I have the choice I prever black and white to color, with the exception of autumn in New England.  It is easier to enhance contrast, darken shadows, and increase the brightness of light.   

A woman pushing her bicycle while carrying an artist's canvas case.  This was a very short distance from the community. 

A man on some version of a paddle board in the Ljubljanica River.  The color version of this is lovely as it was october and the leaves were changing  and reflecting in the ripples.  

The couple who had take over the table my buddy Andrius, a med students, had just abandoned atop Nebotičnek on the day of the Ljubljana Marathon.  One of those perfect days that lives forever in memory.  And I have the photos to prove it. 

Taken on a miserable December night.  Not far from the house but within minutes of going out my fingers were hurting from the damp cold.  I sometimes think this should be on the cover of a murder mystery. 

Fr. Jack, SJ, MD