103. The Rich Man and Lazarus

“There was once a rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The beggar died, and was carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. In the torment of Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember in your lifetime, you received good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. Now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. Between us and you there is a great chasm; those who want to pass from here to you are unable, and no one may cross over from there to us.’

“He said, ‘I ask you, father, to send him to my father’s house to warn my five brothers, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”

Who among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, will say when the servant comes in from the  field, ‘Come now and sit down at the table,’ but will rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, clean up, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant for doing what was required? I think not. Even so you also, when you have done all the things commanded, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have only done our duty.’”

Reflection

The rich man had been unfaithful to God and unloving to his neighbor. Even in torment, the man had trouble seeing Lazarus as anything other than someone who could be his servant. Do you find this story disturbing? Who are the “beggars at the gate” most likely to be ignored today? 

Prayer: Help me remember, Lord, that serving the poor is my simple duty, not something for which I should expect to be honored.