Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
I’m guessing that most of us reading today’s readings do not consider ourselves “rich,” as in today’s gospel reading of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31), although we probably have all that we need and even some of what we want. We may not immediately identify with the Rich Man who dressed in fine linen and dined “sumptuously” each day, although compared to most people in the developing countries, and some in our own country, we are quite rich, having three meals a day and as many snacks as we like and throwing away our leftovers even if we did have good intentions not to waste any food. Granted, we probably don’t have a Lazarus sitting outside our front door, but this parable makes me think about all the poor and suffering people that I prefer to ignore as did the Rich Man. It’s not that I’m mean or unconcerned, and I’d like to think that I’m not selfish. Personally, I find it overwhelming to consider all the poverty and suffering in the world, and so it’s just easier to turn away from it, sometimes even fooling myself into thinking I’ll do something about it later.
Today’s readings remind us and challenge us to place our hope and trust and confidence in God, not in the things of this world. The Rich Man in the parable is an example of one who places his confidence in the things of this world and turns his heart away from the Lord (as Jeremiah cautions about in our first reading), by turning his heart away from Lazarus. The final result is Lazarus enjoying the comfort of Abraham in heaven, and the Rich Man suffering torment in the “netherworld” with a great chasm separating the two. The question comes to mind, did the Rich Man create that chasm by ignoring Lazarus and his needs? By turning his heart away from Lazarus, who represents the poor, did the Rich Man create the chasm that now separates him from God?
This parable illustrates Jesus’ teaching in Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain”: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh…But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.”(6: 21-22, 24-25) These are not easy words for those of us who have our fill in this world, but a comfort for those who suffer in any way, which all of us do at some time or other in our lives. It shows, however, Jesus’ special love for the poor, which is what we need to show as disciples of his.
Both the first reading and psalm for today remind us that if our hope is in the Lord (rather than the things of this world) we will be blessed like a tree planted near running water. Our lives will bear fruit and we will not “fear the heat” or the drought when it comes, for we will be rooted in the love of God. Let us turn our hearts toward God and the poor, especially this Lent. I pray that we can recommit to loving and serving those in need. Rather than feel overwhelmed and turn away, let us ask God to show us the Lazarus that we are called to reach out to. Then, in even a simple act of love, we will help bridge the great chasm between the rich and poor, the suffering and the comforted.
- Eileen Miller