Dear all,
In Luke 16:19-31 we hear Jesus telling the story of ‘The rich man and Lazarus’. Now except for versus 16 to 18, all of Luke 16 is devoted to teaching concerning possessions. As we have already seen over the last year, this is a subject of primary concern to Luke, not only in his record of Jesus’s teaching, but as early as in the preaching of John the Baptist (3:10-14) and as late as Luke’s story of the early church (Acts 2-6). This story of the rich man and Lazarus is a story that is both simple and complex, clear and puzzling. The story is well travelled, existing in several cultures and many versions. At least seven versions of it appear in rabbinical sources! Luke’s version is clearly a Jewish modification of the story; we notice the central place of Father Abraham.
Despite this story being short, the account is rich in detail. And clearly, the sharp contrast between the rich man and the poor is vivid and evocative throughout. The rich man’s character is reflected in his refusal of aid to the poor. This was, of course, a violation of the Law of Moses (Deut. 15:4-11). Moreover, this is a violation of what should be normal, common human compassion. We know the other man only as ‘poor’ but ‘poor’ had come to be in some circles almost as a synonym for ‘righteous’: The Spirit of God is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God (Luke 6:20). That God would reverse the fortunes of such people was a widely held belief and a strong conviction for Luke (The Magnificat 1:51-53, The Beatitudes 6:20-26). Here, there is an obvious and clear challenge to the reader, both then and now.
This parable calls us to consider how wealth, privilege, and indifference to suffering shape life for us and those in need. This story is not really about an afterlife, but about the urgent call to justice here and now. The rich man’s failure was not his wealth itself, but his disregard for the suffering of Lazarus at his gate. Today, we are invited to reflect on economic inequality, systemic injustice, and the responsibility to use resources for the common good of all. Living out this parable means advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable, practice generosity in our communities and care for creation. It also means listening to the voices of the marginalized who reveal truth that we would not hear without them. Ultimately, we’re reminded that genuine discipleship demands compassion, advocacy, and action for those in need. Let us do all we can to live out the powerful point of this parable so that the plight of the poor is permanently more positive.
With much love,
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8