Beyond Comfort: The Rich Man’s Warning and the Poor Man’s Witness

09-28-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

A major theme in the Gospel of Luke is the importance of the care of the poor in the life of discipleship. In the parable found in today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts the life of a rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, who lives in the shadow of the rich man and his wealth. Both die. Lazarus finds himself in heaven; the rich man in hell. The rich mar asks for assistance from Lazarus in his torment. Both Abraham reminds the rich man of the good things he had in his life and describes the current situation as a reversal of fortunes.

The rich man then asks that Lazarus be sent to warn his family but this is denied with the reminder that Moses and the prophets have warned of judgement for those who neglect the care of the poor. When Jesus related this story, His intent was to spiritually awaken the Pharisees who were fond of money. They heard all this, and they ridiculed Him. The Pharisees had elevated themselves to the extent that no one, not even Jesus, could correct them for their own salvation. they were beyond reproach. Returning to the rich man and the poor man, in the days of Jesus, it was understood that Jewish landowners were Yahweh's tenants.

The landowner owed "Taxes" to God's representative, these being the poor. And they were expected to share the land with them in the form of assistance. Based on the Custom, the rich man was obliged to take care of Lazarus, ensuring that his basic needs were met. but this was not happening. The Gospel of Luke tells us that the poor man was not very healthy. He had sores that the dogs would come and lick. Obviously the poor man could not afford medication and the rich man refused to acknowledge his presence and his needs. and so the poor man died.

Soon after, the rich man died. The poor man was taken to Heaven by angels and the rich man was sent to Hades where he was tormented. What followed was the rich man's request to Abraham, that Lazarus be sent to him so he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue because he was in agony from the flames. The parable is not simply a moral lesson about wealth. It is a spiritual warning. The rich man's sin was not his wealth, but his failure to use his resources to help others.

He lived in a bubble of comfort, insulated from the pain of those around him. He did not recognize Lazarus at his gate, not because he could not see him, but because he chose not to. He was so absorbed in his own life, his own indulgence, that he became blind to the needs of others. This is the spiritual danger we face when we become overly focused on accumulating wealth, status, or possessions. The more we seek to satisfy our own desires, the less likely we are to notice the needs of those around us. We can become trapped in a cycle of self-centeredness and in doing so, we distance ourselves from the very love and the mercy that God offers us. Let us strive to live with hearts open to the needs of others and with lives shaped by the love and mercy of God. As we approach the altar to receive Christ in the Eucharist, may we be renewed in our commitment to love and serve our neighbors, specially those in need. And may we never forget that how we live here on earth will determine our eternal destiny.