Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138
Lectionary: 138
Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
Responsorial PsalmPS 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 21 TM 6:11-16
But you,
man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
GospelLK 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Scripture Study
September 29, 2013
Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Once again Luke's Gospel challenges us to deepen our commitment to the care of the poor. Care of the poor and the outcast is a key element of Luke's version of Christian discipleship. Amos reminds us that lack of concern for others will not be unnoticed by God. In the second reading Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful to his calling as a Christian leader. In what ways are we complacent with our own discipleship? Who is the "Lazarus" in my life whose plight I don't even notice?
First Reading: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
1 Woe to the complacent in Zion, [to the overconfident on the mount of Samaria, Leaders of a nation favored from the first, to whom the people of Israel have recourse!]
4 Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, They eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! 5 Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment. 6 They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! 7 Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
NOTES on First Reading:
* 6:1 Only the first part of the verse is used in the reading. Although Amos preached in the northern kingdom known as Israel, after its separation from the southern kingdom called Judah, he uses the term, "Zion," which refers to Jerusalem. The prophets frequently held on to the ancient vision of a united kingdom and did not restrict their words to one or the other of the two kingdoms.
* 6:4-6 "The complacent in Zion ... the overconfident ... of Samaria" refers to the proud and self-interested rulers of Judah and Israel. The real evil here was not the self-indulgence so much as the refusal to notice or care about what was happening to Israel (Joseph of vs. 6).
* 6:7 The idle rich having been the first to receive from Israel's bounty will be the first to experience the exile.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6: 11-16
11 But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, 14 to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 6:11-16 The true church leader will be very different from the false teacher. Timothy's position demands total dedication to God and faultless witness to Christ. Man of God is a title applied to Moses and the prophets (Deut 33:1; 1 Sam 2:27; 1 Kings 12:22; 13:1; etc.).
* 6:12 The good fight refers to Paul's own life as an example (2 Tim 4:7) While some hold that the "good profession" refers to a profession at ordination it is more likely to refer to the profession of faith at baptism.
* 6:13 The testimony of Jesus refers to His conduct when facing His passion and death as an example of fidelity.
* 6:14 The commandment here refers not to a specific commandment but to the entire Divine mandate given to Timothy.
* 6:15-16 This section ends with a doxology in praise of God that is a sort of parallel to the one found in 1:17. It stresses both God's transcendence and His superiority to all earthly powers.
Gospel Reading: Luke 16: 19-31
19 "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 20 And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 22 When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' 25 Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. 26 Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' 27 He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' 30 He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
NOTES on Gospel Reading:
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus once again presents Luke's concern with Jesus' attitude toward the rich and the poor. This is really an example story that asks, "Will the five brothers and the hearers or readers of the story follow the example of the rich man or will they heed the teaching of Jesus and of the Old Testament about the care of the needy like Lazarus and thus become true children of Abraham"?
* 16:19-31 The parable operates on two different levels. The first part of the story (vs 16-23) is a reversal story where the reversal of the fates of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:22-23) illustrates the teachings of Jesus in Luke's "Sermon on the Plain" (Luke 6:20-21,24-25).
* 16:19-20 Although the oldest Greek manuscript of Luke, from about A.D. 175-225, records the name of the rich man as an abbreviated form of "Nineveh," there is very little textual support in other manuscripts for that name or any name at all in the original reading. The name, "Dives," which has long been found in Catholic popular tradition is derived from the Latin Vulgate's translation for "rich man." (v. 19 "...homo quidam erat dives et induebatur purpura et bysso et epulabatur cotidie splendide...") In the story the rich man is not named. This itself is a reversal for the poor were the nameless ones while the rich were well known.
* 16:22 Here again the roles are reversed in that the poor man died and is carried by angels to the "bosom of Abraham" while the rich man simply died and was buried. "Bosom of Abraham" refers to the choice position when one reclines with Abraham at the Messianic banquet (See 13:28-29 and John 13:22).
* 16:23 The netherworld or the underworld, was a term for the place of the dead (Acts 2:27,31) which is here contrasted with a primitive view of heaven.
* 16: 27 The reference to Abraham as father draws on a Lucan theme that mere words or even blood does not make a person a child of Abraham and a member of the reconstituted Israel.
* 16:29 This verse and verse 31 would seem to indicate that the rich man's treatment of Lazarus was a violation of the Old Testament as well as of the teachings of Jesus.
* 16:30-31 Here Luke foreshadows the rejection of the call to repentance displayed by many even after Jesus' resurrection.
Meditation: "Lazarus died and was carried to Abraham's bosom"
What most absorbs your time
and attention, and your heart? Jesus' parable about a man who had everything he
needed and a man who had nothing turns our understanding of what makes a person
happy and successful upside down. In this story Jesus paints a dramatic scene
of contrasts – riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and
indifference, inclusion and exclusion. We also see an abrupt and dramatic
reversal of fortune. Lazarus was not only poor, but sick and unable to lift
himself. He was “laid” at the gates of the rich man’s house. The dogs which
licked his sores probably also stole the little bread he got for himself. Dogs
in the ancient world symbolized contempt. Enduring the torment of these savage
dogs only added to the poor man’s miseries and sufferings. The rich man treated
the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed
at the end of his life! In God's economy, those who hold on possessively to
what they have, lose it all in the end, while those who share generously
receive back many times more than they gave way.
The name Lazarus means God
is my help. Despite a life of misfortune and suffering, Lazarus did not
lose hope in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven.
The rich man, however, could not see beyond his material wealth and
possessions. He not only had every thing he needed, he selfishly spent all he
had on himself. He was too absorbed in what he possessed to notice the needs of
those around him. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because
he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things. He served wealth
rather than God. In the end the rich man became a beggar! Do you know the joy
and freedom of possessing God as your true and lasting treasure? Those who put
their hope and security in heaven will not be disappointed (see Hebrews
6:19)?
"Lord Jesus, you are
my joy and my treasure. Make me rich in the things of heaven and give me a
generous heart that I may freely share with others the spiritual and
material treasures you have given to me."
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Lax about Lazarus
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Twenty-Sixth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
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Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
Luke 16: 19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was
a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined
sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus,
covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that
fell from the rich man´s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of
Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld,
where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and
Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ´Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send
Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am
suffering torment in these flames.´ Abraham replied, ´My child, remember that
you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise
received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are
tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to
prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or
from your side to ours.´ He said, ´Then I beg you, father, send him to my
father´s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they
too come to this place of torment.´ But Abraham replied, ´They have Moses and
the prophets. Let them listen to them.´ He said, ´Oh no, father Abraham, but
if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.´ Then Abraham said,
´If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.´"
Introductory Prayer: In you, Lord, I find all my joy and
happiness. How could I offend you by chasing after fleeting success and
lifeless trophies? I believe in you because you are truth itself. I hope in
you because you are faithful to your promises. I love you because you have
loved me first. I am a sinner; nevertheless, you have given me so many
blessings. I humbly thank you.
Petition: Lord, make me more aware of the people
around me who need my help.
1. Nice Isn´t Enough: The rich man in today´s Gospel is the
proverbial “nice guy.” His good qualities abound. He does, after all, accept
his fate meekly. He doesn´t ask to be released from hell; he asks for only a
drop of water to quench his thirst. And when he can´t get even that much
relief, he begs for a special messenger in the hopes of sparing his own
brothers a similar fate. He at least thinks of the welfare of others. Yet,
all that niceness didn´t save him from eternal punishment. Do I ever think
that just being a "nice" person will get me to heaven? Might I be
using my own standards to judge my worthiness, rather than using God´s
standards?
2. The “O” Word: The rich man never seemed to be bothered by
Lazarus. The poor man was doubtlessly a pitiful sight to behold. Some people
would have been quick to send servants to chase the beggar away. But not the
rich man; no, he deliberately left the beggar alone. And that is where the
rich man erred. His was a sin of omission. The rich man lost his soul not for
what he did, but for what he failed to do. Am I much better? Is there someone
in need, right under my nose, who I routinely ignore? Is there something I
could be doing to end an evil? Do I help the pro-life effort? Do I contribute
to the poor? Do I dedicate time to a needy child or sibling or in-law?
3. Late Love: The rich man, now condemned, shows concern
for his five brothers. They, presumably, are living it up — and destined for
the same end as their hapless sibling. The rich man´s concern is well-placed,
but his timing is late. If only he had shown concern for his brothers´ souls
when he was alive — then he might have made an impact. Caring for family
members, helping them reach heaven, is the most loving thing we can do for
them. Everything else will be meaningless if our own behavior (or omission)
prevents others from attaining salvation. Does that prompt me to pray
constantly for family members? To offer up sacrifices for them? Do I try to
help others grow in their faith?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, my time in this world is short. Too
many people suffer the unexpected death of loved ones and then regret that
they didn´t do more for them. Let me not make that same mistake. Help me see
that each day is a gift, and each encounter with another person is an
opportunity to show your love to them.
Resolution: I will do an act of charity for someone whom
I have been taking for granted.
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SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 29
TWENTY-SIXTH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
LUKE
16:19-31
(Amos
6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy
6:11-16)
KEY VERSE: "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead" (v 31).
READING: Jesus addressed a parable to those who were rich in material goods yet ignored the needs of the poor. In the story, a wealthy man feasted in luxury while Lazarus, a poor man, was outside his house, lying in agony, suffering from disease and starvation. When the two men died, their fortunes were reversed. Lazarus was taken to the "bosom of Abraham" (v 22) where the just awaited resurrection, while the rich man ended up in torment in the netherworld (Hebrew, she'ol, the underworld which received the dead). The rich man pleaded with Abraham to send someone to warn his family lest they ended up sharing a similar fate. Abraham said that if they did not listen to the scriptures ("Moses and the prophets") they would not believe anyone else, even if that person should rise from the dead (an image of Jesus' own resurrection).
REFLECTING: Do I ignore the suffering people who are right at my doorstep?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the "Lazarus" in my life.
Praise the Lord, my soul!
‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’ (Matthew 19:24). This teaching of Jesus is exemplified in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus - the only parable in which a character is named.
The rich man not only fails to minister to the needs of the beggar, he is indifferent to his plight or even culpably unaware of his existence. There is no room for the likes of Lazarus either at his table or in his heart. The rich man resembles the pagan gods of whom the psalmist said: ‘They have eyes, but they do not see’ (Psalm 135:16). Lord, help me to recognise my brother Lazarus whenever he appears in my life.
September 29
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but
only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.
Michael
appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel
against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final
victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic
devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began
to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.
Gabriel
also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in
God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl
named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.
Raphael's
activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to
guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to
a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's
blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.
The
memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the
Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts
to Michael's.
Comment:
Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.
Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.
Quote:
"For the honor
we pay the angelic creatures in whom you delight dedounds to your own
surpassing glory, and by their great dignity and splendor you show how
infinitely great you are, to be exalted above all things, through Christ our
Lord" (Roman Missal, Preface for this feast).
Patron Saint of:
Death
Germany
Grocers
Police officers
Radiologists
Death
Germany
Grocers
Police officers
Radiologists
LECTIO: 26TH
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, September 29, 2013
The parable of Lazarus and the rich man
Between the two only a closed door
Luke 16, 19-31
Between the two only a closed door
Luke 16, 19-31
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to
read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on
the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped
them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence
and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for
them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
In this 26th Sunday of
Ordinary Time, the Liturgy places before us the parable of the poor Lazarus,
sitting before the door of the rich man. This parable is a faithful mirror, in
which is mirrored not only the situation of the society at the time of Jesus,
but also our society of the XXI century. The parable is a strong and radical
denunciation of this situation, because it clearly indicates that God thinks
contrary to that. In the parable there are three persons: the poor man, the
rich man and Father Abraham. The poor man has a name, but does not speak. He
hardly exists. His only friends are the little dogs which lick his wounds. The
rich man does not have a name, but speaks always and insists. He wants to be
right, but he does not succeed. Father Abraham is the father of both of them,
and loves both, and he calls the rich man who is in hell, but he does not
succeed in obtaining that the rich man changes opinion and converts himself.
During the reading try to be very attentive to the conversation of the rich man
with Father Abraham, to the arguments of the rich man and to the arguments of
Father Abraham.
b) A division of the text to help in the
reading:
Luke 16, 19-21: The situation of both in this
life
Luke 16, 22: The situation of both in the other life
Luke 16, 23-26: The first conversation between the rich man and Abraham
Luke 16, 27-29: The second conversation between the rich man and Abraham
Luke 16, 30-31: The third conversation between the rich man and Abraham
Luke 16, 22: The situation of both in the other life
Luke 16, 23-26: The first conversation between the rich man and Abraham
Luke 16, 27-29: The second conversation between the rich man and Abraham
Luke 16, 30-31: The third conversation between the rich man and Abraham
c) Text:
19 'There was a rich man who used to dress in
purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. 20 And at his gate
there used to lie a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed
to fill himself with what fell from the rich man's table. Even dogs came and
licked his sores. 22 Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried
away by the angels into Abraham's embrace. The rich man also died and was
buried. 23 'In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off
with Lazarus in his embrace. 24 So he cried out, "Father Abraham, pity me
and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for
I am in agony in these flames." 25 Abraham said, "My son, remember
that during your life you had your fill of good things, just as Lazarus his
fill of bad. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. 26 But that
is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to prevent those
who want to cross from our side to yours or from your side to ours." 27
'So he said, "Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father's house,
28 since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to
this place of torment too." 29 Abraham said, "They have Moses and the
prophets, let them listen to them." 30 The rich man replied, "Ah no,
father Abraham, but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will
repent." 31 Then Abraham said to him, "If they will not listen either
to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should
rise from the dead."
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and
enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) Which point of the text pleased you most and
what struck you most? Why?
b) Compare the situation of the poor man and of the rich man before and after death. Which is their situation before death? What changes in the situation of the poor man and of the rich man after death?
c) What separates the poor man from the rich man before death? What separates the rich man from the poor man after death?
d) In the conversation between the rich man and Father Abraham, what does the rich man ask and what is the response of Abraham?
e) In this parable, the situation changes only after death. Would it be that Jesus wants to tell us that during life the poor have to bear everything in order to be able then, to merit Heaven? What do you think?
f) There are some persons who, like the rich man of the parable, expect miracles in order to be able to believe in God. But God asks to believe in Moses and in the Prophets. And I, toward which side does my heart tend: toward the miracle or toward the Word of God?
g) How do I treat the poor? For me, do they have a name?
b) Compare the situation of the poor man and of the rich man before and after death. Which is their situation before death? What changes in the situation of the poor man and of the rich man after death?
c) What separates the poor man from the rich man before death? What separates the rich man from the poor man after death?
d) In the conversation between the rich man and Father Abraham, what does the rich man ask and what is the response of Abraham?
e) In this parable, the situation changes only after death. Would it be that Jesus wants to tell us that during life the poor have to bear everything in order to be able then, to merit Heaven? What do you think?
f) There are some persons who, like the rich man of the parable, expect miracles in order to be able to believe in God. But God asks to believe in Moses and in the Prophets. And I, toward which side does my heart tend: toward the miracle or toward the Word of God?
g) How do I treat the poor? For me, do they have a name?
5. For those who wish to deepen more into the
theme
a) Context:
i) In the Gospel of Luke, from Chapter 9 (Lk
9, 51), we are accompanying Jesus on his journey toward Jerusalem. Here in
chapters 15 and 16, as to say, we reach the summit, the centre of the journey,
from where it is possible to see the road that has already been covered and
that which still has to be covered. Or, that is, that on the summit of the
hill, or in the centre of the Gospel, we perceive with greater clarity the two
principal themes which go through the Gospel of Luke, from one end to the
other. In chapter 15, the parable of the father with his two sons reveals to us
the tenderness and the mercy of God who accepts all. Now chapter 16 presents to
us the parable of the poor Lazarus to reveal the attitude that we should have
before the problem of poverty and of social injustice.
ii) Every time that Jesus has something
important to communicate, he narrates or tells a parable, he creates a story
which mirrors the reality of the people. Thus, during the reflection on visible
reality, he leads those who listen to discover the invisible appeals of God,
present in life. A parable is made to make people think and reflect. This is
why it is important to be attentive even to small details. In the parable on
which we are meditating, there are three persons. Lazarus, the poor man, the
only one who does not speak. The rich man without a name, who speaks to ask.
Father Abraham, who, in the parable, represents the thought of God- The rich
man without a name represents the dominating ideology of the government of the
time. Lazarus represents the excruciating cry of the poor at the time of Jesus,
of the time of Luke and of all times.
b) Commentary on the text:
Luke 16, 19-21: The situation of the
rich man and of the poor man.
Here we have the two extremes of society. On the one hand, the aggressive richness. On the other the poor without any resources, without any rights, covered with ulcers and wounds, impure, with nobody to accept him to receive him, except the little dogs which lick his wounds. What separates both of them is only a door: the closed door of the house of the rich man. On his part there is no acceptance, no pity for the problem of the poor man who is before his door. But in the parable, the poor man has a name, while the rich man does not. The name of the poor man is Lazarus, which means God helps.
Through the poor God helps the rich and the rich man could have his name written in the Book of Life. But the rich man does not accept to be helped by the poor man, because he continues to keep the door closed. This beginning of the parable which describes the situation, is a faithful mirror of what happens in the time of Jesus and of Luke. and, it is also the mirror of what happens today!
Here we have the two extremes of society. On the one hand, the aggressive richness. On the other the poor without any resources, without any rights, covered with ulcers and wounds, impure, with nobody to accept him to receive him, except the little dogs which lick his wounds. What separates both of them is only a door: the closed door of the house of the rich man. On his part there is no acceptance, no pity for the problem of the poor man who is before his door. But in the parable, the poor man has a name, while the rich man does not. The name of the poor man is Lazarus, which means God helps.
Through the poor God helps the rich and the rich man could have his name written in the Book of Life. But the rich man does not accept to be helped by the poor man, because he continues to keep the door closed. This beginning of the parable which describes the situation, is a faithful mirror of what happens in the time of Jesus and of Luke. and, it is also the mirror of what happens today!
Luke 16, 22: The change revealed by
the truth which was hidden
“Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The rich man also died and was buried”. In the parable, the poor man dies before the rich man. This is a warning for the rich. Up to the time when the poor man was before the door, alive, it is still possible for the rich man to be saved. But after the poor man dies, the only instrument of salvation for the rich man, also dies. Today, millions of poor people die, victims of the geopolitics of the rich countries.
The poor man dies and is carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The embrace of Abraham is the source of life, from where is born the People of God. Lazarus, the poor man, belongs to the People of God, forms part of the People of Abraham , from which he is excluded because he was at the door of the rich man. The rich man who thinks that he is a son of Abraham , he also dies and is buried. But he does not go toward the embrace of Abraham, because he is not a son of Abraham!
The introduction of the parable ends here. Now begins the revelation of its meaning, through three conversations between the rich man and Father Abraham.
“Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The rich man also died and was buried”. In the parable, the poor man dies before the rich man. This is a warning for the rich. Up to the time when the poor man was before the door, alive, it is still possible for the rich man to be saved. But after the poor man dies, the only instrument of salvation for the rich man, also dies. Today, millions of poor people die, victims of the geopolitics of the rich countries.
The poor man dies and is carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The embrace of Abraham is the source of life, from where is born the People of God. Lazarus, the poor man, belongs to the People of God, forms part of the People of Abraham , from which he is excluded because he was at the door of the rich man. The rich man who thinks that he is a son of Abraham , he also dies and is buried. But he does not go toward the embrace of Abraham, because he is not a son of Abraham!
The introduction of the parable ends here. Now begins the revelation of its meaning, through three conversations between the rich man and Father Abraham.
Luke 16, 23-26: The first conversation
between the rich man without a name and Father Abraham
The parable is like a window which Jesus opens for us on the other side of life, the side of God. It is not a question of Heaven. It is a question of the true side of life discovered only by faith and that the rich man, without faith does not perceive. The dominating ideology prevents him from discovering it. And it is only in the light of death that the ideology disintegrates itself in the mind of the rich man, and that the true value of life appears to him. On God’s part, without the ideology and the deceiving propaganda of the government, their lucks will be changed: The rich man suffers, the poor man is happy. The rich man, in seeing Lazarus in Abraham’s embrace asks that Lazarus gives some relief to his suffering. In the light of death, the rich man discovers that Lazarus is his only possible benefactor. But now it is too late! The rich man without a name is a Jew (or Christian) “pious”, knows Abraham and calls himFather. Abraham responds and calls him son. That means that, in reality, this word of Abraham is addressed to the rich who are alive. In so far as being alive, they also have the possibility of becoming sons of Abraham, if they open the door to Lazarus, to the poor man, to the only one who in God’s name can help them. For the rich man, closed up in his suffering, salvation consisted in a drop of water which Lazarus could give him. In reality, for the rich man, salvation does not consist in that Lazarus gives him a drop of water to refresh his tongue, but rather, that he himself, the rich man, opens the closed door of his house and enters into contact with the poor man. It is only in this way that it will be possible to overcome the great abyss which separates him.
In Abraham’s response, the truth of the four curses appears before the rich man: (Lk 6, 24-26).
But alas for you who are rich:
you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now:
you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who are laughing now:
you shall mourn and weep.
'Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you!
This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.
The parable is like a window which Jesus opens for us on the other side of life, the side of God. It is not a question of Heaven. It is a question of the true side of life discovered only by faith and that the rich man, without faith does not perceive. The dominating ideology prevents him from discovering it. And it is only in the light of death that the ideology disintegrates itself in the mind of the rich man, and that the true value of life appears to him. On God’s part, without the ideology and the deceiving propaganda of the government, their lucks will be changed: The rich man suffers, the poor man is happy. The rich man, in seeing Lazarus in Abraham’s embrace asks that Lazarus gives some relief to his suffering. In the light of death, the rich man discovers that Lazarus is his only possible benefactor. But now it is too late! The rich man without a name is a Jew (or Christian) “pious”, knows Abraham and calls himFather. Abraham responds and calls him son. That means that, in reality, this word of Abraham is addressed to the rich who are alive. In so far as being alive, they also have the possibility of becoming sons of Abraham, if they open the door to Lazarus, to the poor man, to the only one who in God’s name can help them. For the rich man, closed up in his suffering, salvation consisted in a drop of water which Lazarus could give him. In reality, for the rich man, salvation does not consist in that Lazarus gives him a drop of water to refresh his tongue, but rather, that he himself, the rich man, opens the closed door of his house and enters into contact with the poor man. It is only in this way that it will be possible to overcome the great abyss which separates him.
In Abraham’s response, the truth of the four curses appears before the rich man: (Lk 6, 24-26).
But alas for you who are rich:
you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now:
you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who are laughing now:
you shall mourn and weep.
'Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you!
This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 16, 27-29: The second
conversation between the rich man and Abraham
The rich man insists: “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers!” The rich man does not want his brothers to suffer the same torment. “Send Lazarus!” Lazarus, the poor man, is the only true intermediary between God and the rich. But the rich man, during his life was not concerned for the poor Lazarus. He is concerned about himself and of his brothers. He was never concerned about the poor! It is like the older son of the “Parable of the Father with two sons” (Lk 15, 25-30). The older one wanted to have a feast with his friends, and not with his brother who had been lost. Abraham’s response is clear: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them!”. They have the Bible! The rich man had the Bible. He knew it even by heart. But he never became aware that the Bible had something to do with the poor who were at his door. The key to understand the sense of the Bible and of salvation is the poor Lazarus, sitting at the door of the rich man!.
The rich man insists: “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers!” The rich man does not want his brothers to suffer the same torment. “Send Lazarus!” Lazarus, the poor man, is the only true intermediary between God and the rich. But the rich man, during his life was not concerned for the poor Lazarus. He is concerned about himself and of his brothers. He was never concerned about the poor! It is like the older son of the “Parable of the Father with two sons” (Lk 15, 25-30). The older one wanted to have a feast with his friends, and not with his brother who had been lost. Abraham’s response is clear: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them!”. They have the Bible! The rich man had the Bible. He knew it even by heart. But he never became aware that the Bible had something to do with the poor who were at his door. The key to understand the sense of the Bible and of salvation is the poor Lazarus, sitting at the door of the rich man!.
c) Extending the information:
Because of the unjust social context at the
time of Jesus:
In the year 64 B.C. the Romans invaded
Palestine and imposed upon the people a very heavy tax. The scholars estimate
that more or less half of the family income was destined to pay the taxes, the
taxes of the Roman Government. Besides, Rome made a geopolitical reorganization
in the region. Before the Roman invasion, the whole region, from Tyre to Sidon
up to the frontier with Egypt, was governed by the Asmonei, the prolongation of
the Maccabees. After the invasion , only three regions remained under the
government of the Jews: Judea, Pereira and Galilee. In order to be able to
maintain the control on dominated peoples with a minimum of sacrifice and at
their own expense, the Romans were the Saducees, the elders, some publicans and
part of the priests. Thus, all this change brought about by the Roman invasion
caused almost all the Jews who were living in the other territories of that
region to migrate toward Judea and Galilee. The consequence of this: the
population was doubled in Judea and in Galilee and the family income diminished
by half. The result: on the one hand, progressive impoverishment, unemployment,
begging, extreme poverty. On the other, exaggerated enrichment of the local
population, supported by the Romans. The faithful picture of this situation is
expressed in the parable of the poor Lazarus and of the rich man who had no
pity.
Final Reflection around the parable
The rich man who has everything and who closes
himself up in himself, loses God, loses the richness, loses life, loses
himself, loses his name, loses everything. The poor man who has nothing, has
God, gains life, has a name, gains everything. The poor man is Lazarus, he is
“God helps”. God comes to us in the person of the poor man sitting at our door,
to help us overcome the insurmountable abyss created by the rich who have no
heart. Lazarus is also Jesus, the poor Messiah and servant, who was not accepted,
but whose death radically changed all things. And in the light of the death of
the poor man, everything changes.
The place of torment is the situation of the
persons without God. Even if the rich man thinks that he has a religion and
faith, he does not know how to be with God because he does not open the door to
the poor man, as Zacchaeus did (Lk 19, 1-10).
6. Prayer of a Psalm
Psalm 15 (14): Yahweh, who can find a
home in your tent?
Yahweh, who can find a home in your
tent,
who can dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever lives blamelessly,
who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart,
who keeps the tongue under control,
who does not wrong a comrade,
who casts no discredit on a neighbour,
who looks with scorn on the vile,
but honours those who fear Yahweh,
who stands by an oath at any cost,
who asks no interest on loans,
who takes no bribe to harm the innocent.
No one who so acts can ever be shaken.
who can dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever lives blamelessly,
who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart,
who keeps the tongue under control,
who does not wrong a comrade,
who casts no discredit on a neighbour,
who looks with scorn on the vile,
but honours those who fear Yahweh,
who stands by an oath at any cost,
who asks no interest on loans,
who takes no bribe to harm the innocent.
No one who so acts can ever be shaken.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled
us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our
actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed
to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the
Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.
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