Luke 16:19-31
Too many have read this parable as a definitive statement about the rich and the poor, as a story discounting the wealthy and elevating the poor. Others have tried to use this as a doctrinal statement about the end-times and the afterlife ("eschatology"). Since we North Americans are wealthy in comparison to much of the world, perhaps it’s a good thing this is not a story directed against the “wealthy.” And as far as being an “eschatological” text, it’s about as eschatological as, “A guy died and went to heaven, and when he got to the pearly gates, St. Peter stopped him and asked….”
While the purpose of this parable differs
from those common misperceptions, we do find an overriding theme: What we do
here and now impacts our eternity there and then.
While you and I can probably name a
dozen rich and famous people, the lack of name given to “the rich man” is yet
another example of Jesus turning the world on its head. At the same time, we
may be hard pressed to name a dozen…or five…or three…or even one person who is
broken, destitute…yet, Jesus knows him by name: Lazarus.
So, what did “the rich man” do to end
up in Hades? Did he have some deep, dark, evil sin? He does not end up in Hades
because of anything he has done. So, why? The rich man ends up in Hades because
of what he did not do, because of what he refused to do, because he did
nothing.
At the gates of his house lies a
beggar, Lazarus, who has nothing and no one. Could our rich man not have given
Lazarus at least a simple, rough wool blanket…to keep the dogs from licking his
sores? Could our rich fellow not have given Lazarus at least some rice and
beans, some bread and olive oil? At the very least, could he not have simply
acknowledged the existence of Lazarus?
The rich man’s sin was this—he closed
his eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of need around him. He did nothing
to alleviate the poverty that faced him each day. Nothing.
This past week, the RGV was slammed by
an unexpected and destructive storm. Flood waters damaged houses, ruined
automobiles, closed businesses, and destroyed dreams. Those of us who live in
the RGV are now surrounded by people who suffer because of this storm.
So, how do we respond? A few weeks
ago, Jesus told us the story of “the good Samaritan.” That parable calls us to
be kind to those in need. We may think that what we have to offer is ‘too
little’ or ‘insignificant.’ I imagine the lad who came forward with five loaves
and two fish thought the same thing, yet God used his gift to feed 5000 people.
We do what we can. We cannot fix every
situation. We may not even make a huge dent in the problem. But, we can do
something. We can give, we can clean, we can cook, we can serve, we can listen—we
do what we can. When we do what we can, God is honored, and lives are touched
in profound ways. Unlike the rich man in Jesus’ parable, let’s open our eyes
and ears and respond somehow—cleaning supplies, clothes, a helping hand, food,
money, a listening ear. Let’s do something. Because the something we do here
and now will have eternal consequences there and then.
Amen.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
“Towards Jerusalem: Rich Man, Poor Man”
Watch/Listen: HERE