WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH LAZARUS?

 

     There was a certain rich man who wore purple linen clothes everyday- not just for special occasions, but everyday. Purple was a sign of wealth and this man, who later became known as “Dives,” wore it every single day. He lived like a king and dined on the best of food. In a time when people struggled to afford meat, this rich man ate pheasant, dormice, boar, and lamb on a regular basis, along with the best fruit and wine that money could buy.  There was a certain poor man (who was every bit as poor as the rich man was rich) named Lazarus who laid near the rich man’s gate. Instead of purple clothes, Lazarus was covered in sores, that dogs licked as they roamed the streets, and he longed for nothing more than a few crumbs from the rich man’s table. But they never came. Not a scrap, not a drink… because Dives didn’t seem to see him. Day after day, the rich man would come and go without acknowledging the poor man who laid at his gate in any way. In the course of time, both men died. Lazarus was taken by angels and placed in the bosom of Father Abraham. Dives, on the other hand, ended up in hell, where he experienced great emotional and physical agony. According to Jesus’ parable, the rich man was suffering when he lifted his eyes and saw both Abraham and Lazarus. Have mercy on me, he cried out to Abraham, and send Lazarus to give me a drop of water to quench my thirst. Abraham said, ‘My son, do not forget that when you were living you had your good things. Lazarus had bad things.” And more than all this, no one from here can get to you! (see Luke 16:19ff)

      A certain rich man’s land produced a bountiful crop. Its abundance caught him by surprise and he wondered what he should do with his abundance. Then he thought, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I will be on easy street for the rest of my life. I will rest, eat, drink, and throw parties without a care in the world. But God said to him, “You fool,” you should’ve stored up your riches in heaven because this is your last day on earth. (see Luke 12:13ff) There was a man who came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?" Obey the commandments, Jesus stated. I have, the man replied. “Then,” Jesus said, “sell what you own, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he was very rich. (Matt. 19:16ff) And so what are we to make of all of this, especially those of us who are rich by the world’s standards? 

      There is no reason to think that Dives insulted or abused Lazarus… but he was blind to Lazarus’ needs. He didn’t see him. There’s no reason to think that the rich "fool" should have felt guilty because he received a bountiful crop, or that he should not have carefully considered what to do with it….but it’s clear that he didn’t see his connection with those in need, and didn’t see that the future is God’s time! Likewise, it doesn’t seem that the rich ruler was corrupt or evil, but it is clear that he just couldn’t bring himself to let go of his riches because he had fallen in love with them. To me, these passages are personal. They are not indictments against riches as such- Abraham, for instance, was extremely rich. They warn us about misusing riches, but they do not condemn them or celebrate poverty. They are not about economic systems or a redistribution of wealth, but they do ask two very important questions to me: 1) am I generous with what I have, and 2) what am I doing with Lazarus? Do I wear my riches well and share generously as God leads me... and what am I doing with Lazarus? What am I doing with Jesus when he appears to me as a beggar on the street, as an unwelcome intruder cleaning my windshield, as a lonely figure in an alley, as a young woman whose life has gone all wrong, as someone who is simply hard to like, or a Lazarus, who is dying under my watch?

      To me, Christianity revolves around two questions: 1) what am I doing with the gifts and opportunities God has given me, and 2) what am I doing with His Son? Do I even see him? Am I willing to go out of my way to be of assistance? I would like to think that I would’ve paid for Lazarus’ medical care, fed him lavishly, and given him a place to call home… or at least looked him in the eye and given him a few crumbs from my table, but my track record would tell a different story. O Lord, give me eyes that see you when you appear to me, a heart that breaks with yours, and enough courage to get involved. Amen!