Luke: 16: 19-31

Thursday, March 16, 2006Jeremiah: 17: 5-10 Luke: 16: 19-31

“Trust in God, but not in human beings.” “The wicked trust in human being and cursed. The just trust in the lord and assure God as their future”. Dear brothers in today’s first reading the Jeremiah observation on the human heart concludes with a declaration of doom for those who forsake God. Example: a person who accurse wealth unjustly can be corrupted mind in this way. This we see in today’s Gospel reading too. The parable or story that Jesus tells us in today's gospel reading is Avery difficult passage for most of us. It, along with the epistle lesson this morning, speak to us of the difficulty that some people have with wealth - with money - with accumulating stuff. In today's parable, the rich man crosses paths with poor Lazarus every day. He sees Lazarus waiting at the gate of the house. - The Dogs licking his sores. He waits for the servant to bring out the rich man's Breadcrumbs for him to eat. Indeed Lazarus longs for those crumbs. Even though - as was the custom in some places where water was Scarce and food abundant, the crumbs were used, instead of water, to clean one's hands with when the meal was done. It’s clear that the rich man knew about Lazarus. He refers to Lazarus by name, even after both of them has died. But notice something else: the rich man never speaks directly to Lazarus. Not Even from Hell where he is under torment. And when he is in Hell he still expects Lazarus to serve him: "Father Abraham," he calls out, "have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames." And then again, "Then, father, send him to my father's house - for I have five brothers - that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment." Even after the rich man undergoes the divine reversal of fates, he still hasn't changed how he treats Lazarus. It's as if the chasm that separated them after they died also existed when they lived. The rich man kept Lazarus at a distance. And now that he's in trouble, he expects Lazarus to cross that distance to help him. That’s quite the attitude - and quite the chasm. Now, none of us have a poor person at the end of our driveway waiting for the dirty crumbs from our tables This Story really has little to say to us when we have taken the first step toward becoming like the rich man. But as I said at the very beginning that today's gospel reading is a very difficult passage for most of us, it is so precisely also because it causes us to ask questions like: How am I like the rich man? - Who is it I ignore - or treat as less than fully human? - Who is our Lazarus? The one whom I regard as less than I am? That's not nice - especially not nice since we are aware that there is a lot of need out there, and since we are aware that we have only so much time, only so much money, only so much compassion.
The whole passage - given our context as a people who have so much more than 90% of the world's population - is distressing; even for those who share their time, give their money, and spend their compassion on the poor and needy within our town and indeed within our world community
Compared to most of the privileged people in the world, most if not all of you speak to those who have a different station in life. You do not regard street people as your inferiors or treat those on welfare as your servants. You do care about the poor of our community and of our world. So my dear friends; today,There is a chasm between those who love money and those who seek true riches, between those seek out the newest toys that our society is so desperate, and those who pursue righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Remember how the Rich Man - even in hell - where he knows the truth of his lack of caring - still does not address Lazarus personally - how he still regards him as one who can be sent by others - as a servant to help him -rather than as one who has received his just reward from God? Those in love with money simply will not get the picture, if they do get it - they still end up wandering from the faith. So love God, feel comfortable - but also feel assured - for the one who rose from the dead has promised to help you and to forgive you - and he will be true to his promise - and he will guide you day by day as you continue to yield your life to him. He doesn't expect you to do everything for everyone -only to do everything you can - and to trust him for the rest if you make excuses for your lack of caring for others - instead of making amends if you cling to what you have rather than letting it go if you judge others less worthy because of their poverty and others as greater because of their riches then you will pay for it. God is forgiving - but God is not mocked To this I might add the Love of God - and loving our neighbors - as we love ourselves is the root of all goodness. “Blessed be the one who raised from the dead and who speaks to us now.And blessed are all those who hear his words and act upon them”. Amen

By

Jayaraj SCJ

Frist year Theology Studnet