There is the old saying that there are 2 things certain in life – death and taxes. In our Gospel reading one of those is certainly true – death. Jesus tells the story of 2 people at opposite ends of the wealth scale. Lazarus – not the Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead – and an unnamed rich man. They could not be further apart. There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table. Although there would be some question as to whether Lazarus ever paid taxes, the matter of death faces both of them. The Book of Hebrews confirms that also – people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. And apart from Enoch and Elijah in the Old Testament that is certainly true even for our Lord Jesus Christ. And not all the money in the world can prevent the rich man from that same destiny.
And as I said – their earthly wealth status could not be further apart. After their death, we hear that that same separation continues. They are worlds apart after death. The difference however is that there is an impassable chasm that now separates Lazarus and the rich man. Whereas Lazarus would eat from the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, the chasm does not even allow a drop of water to pass to ease the rich man’s torment. And the other difference is that there is now a reversal of status. Whereas the rich man lived in luxury and comfort while Lazarus lived in squalor and pain – that has now been reversed. Lazarus is now comforted by Abraham while the rich is tormented in Hades.
This is one of the very few images of hell that we are presented with in the Bible and it’s a frightening picture. It’s an image that many preachers avoid perhaps because we all know friends and family that have rejected Christ and we don’t want to think about what Judgment Day might bring for them. But it is a reality we cannot avoid or ignore. But this should be at the heart of mission so that, as we heard last week, for God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. This is a really difficult story Jesus tells because it is easy to place guilt on ourselves that we are in the place of the rich man because of our comfort. That is not what Jesus is teaching.
Last week I had to go to the city to sign some legal papers. As I walked from Flinders Street station, I was shocked at how many people I saw like Lazarus sitting on the footpath begging. Many of them placed themselves outside the supermarkets or eating places perhaps to heighten our wealth and their poverty.
There were men and women, young and old – poverty does not discriminate. I stopped to help one young woman whose sign that she had written to explain her situation blew away with the wind. I chased it down and returned it and she thanked me and I gave her some money and she thanked me again. But I thought – what about the other half dozen I passed previously?
It’s difficult and as much as we would love to solve hunger and homelessness off our own resources it’s just not possible. The teaching here is the hope that we can impart which is limitless. That there will be a reversal of fortunes. That’s what Jesus teaches in the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Sadly the rich man finally begins to think of others and not himself: I beg you to send Lazarus 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. The rich man, from what we see in this parable wasn’t an evil person but he had allowed his wealth to blind him from the needs of others.
It had almost deadened his heart to be unable to see the pain and need all around him even at his front door.
St Paul also does not call riches evil but rather the love of riches which breaks the first commandment – you shall have no other gods. Paul further goes on to uphold those are rich but to be careful with those riches; As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty – arrogant or feeling superior to others. Don’t set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
It is quite challenging living what some perceive as a comfortable life – a roof over our head – well fed – freedom from war and natural disasters. When we look at the world around us both here and at home – the homelessness, the families struggling financially trying to pay the mortgage or their gas and electricity bills – seeing children go to school without breakfast and then what we see happening overseas – one can feel guilty for simply living the everyday life. But the message here is not against wealth but to urge us to witness to those who have lost their way through wealth and to bring hope to those who feel hopeless.
The rich man begs Abraham: I beg you to send Lazarus 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.’ Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them. We can’t fix poverty and homelessness on our own but we can bring God’s word of hope as Jesus did in the beatitudes. Even if we sold everything and gave it to the poor, as Jesus once said – the poor you will always have with you. But as Peter once said when he was asked for money by a beggar – “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Whilst we might not have the ability to heal a person physically we have the ability bring spiritual care by sharing with them the good news of Jesus and the love of God. Again, something far greater as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians: If I give all I possess to the poor … but do not have love, I gain nothing. It’s very challenging dealing with homelessness, poverty and other social problems. We can support the various welfare agencies but that does not provide them with what they truly need. The grace of God.
Again, remember the poor widow who only had 2 small copper coins. She could have kept both for herself or even just one. But what would happen once they were gone. She realized that there was a far greater resource than money. The love of God. And God’s love has been poured out for us in Jesus Christ and we can share that with others and it will never run out.
After I came away from that homeless woman in the city having given her money, I didn’t feel any better and I’m sure that by now that money has run out. But I realise now that I could have shared with her a far greater gift that is everlasting. To remind her of God’s love and to pray for her. And just like Peter, we have a far greater gift to give than any amount of Gold or Silver – the precious love of Christ, as St Paul said today – the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
