Written for the rich and comfortable
Luke wrote to the wealthy. Therefore his gospel especially recounts Jesus’ words and actions teaching the danger of prioritising riches and ignoring other people and the rest of the world.
Today’s parable of Lazarus and the rich man is an excellent example, full of movement, both on an intimate and personal level, as on the cosmic and eschatological. Just to demonstrate in one movement, Luke writes: The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. Or another little detail full of suggestion and meaning: the poor man had a name, the rich man not.
Intimate and personal
We see the terrible refusal of becoming involved with a lowlife, a good for nothing, and its consequences. Yet, even with the withholding of loving the neighbour so starkly described, still God provides. It is as if the dogs ‘knew’ they share a common home with Lazarus.
Cosmic and eschatological
The parable is a summary of the thinking among the people of first-century Palestine about what happens in the afterlife. They knew that this life and the next are connected. What you do here determines what you will ‘do’ there.
Difference between the two worlds
In addition, it underscores the difference between this life and the one that follows. The difference still holds for us, many Christian centuries later, even if here and there coloured by local culture. It still remains a world apart, with a deep abyss between here and there.
This life and the next connected
There is a connection between this life and the next. What could that link be?
It is the word of God made alive at every celebration of Mass in the readings and Holy Communion and the people gathered. And more: the resurrection of the same Word from the dead, which, incidentally, we celebrate at every Mass. That is the connection between this life and the next.
Tragedy remains
The tragedy on the lips of Abraham, that they will not believe even if someone should rise from the dead is alive and well in us today.
Look in any direction of our world and see how we live as if the next person were invisible. I don’t see you. Don’t bother me.
Lazarus is at the gate still. We pass him by, too busy with our very successful projects ministering to the poor and marginalised. There is no one better than us.
God as pilgrim of hope
Still, it is to us that God gives the call to proclaim the good news that God-is-with-us. To us who are hard of heart. God is taking a big gamble betting on us.
Maybe because the Lord believes in walking the path with us. Maybe because his hope in us never waivers. Maybe his pilgrimage of hope towards us will make us see eventually. That Lazarus is here.