26 Sept - Recognizing Lazarus

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH OUR PHYSICAL AND TANGIBLE POSSESSIONS? HOW DO WE DEAL WITH OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS? JESUS REQUIRES AN ANSWER. (Luke 16:19-31)

Throughout this sixteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus is talking about us and our possessions. He says again and again that this is one of the most important relationships in our lives, and that we will be judged largely on the way we have dealt with it.

Jesus has also been saying that possessions can be both outer and inner. Our relationship to our outer possessions, from which we take so much pleasure, is only an outward sign of our relationship with our inner possessions, our spiritual riches. We can be very rich outwardly and very poor inwardly. We can be poor outwardly and rich inwardly. We can sometimes be rich both outwardly and inwardly, but only if we are prepared to be good stewards of our riches before God.

The chapter ends with Jesus telling a powerful and poin - - - story of the rich man and Lazarus. For his listeners, Jesus was presenting the rich man as an image of themselves, rich and comfortable, but without any compassion for others. These “religious” people claimed a special relationship with God, but how was this spirituality seen in their actions? Jesus is emphasizing the way judgment takes place in human life. We judge ourselves by making our own choices and living the consequences.

When, in the story, the rich man beseeches Lazarus at least go to his still-living brothers, the answer he gets is a terrible one. They have placed themselves beyond reach, and cannot be made to hear. The terrible truth is that we can, by our own patterns and choices, place ourselves out of the reach of God. That will not be God’s wish for us, but it will nevertheless take place. We are free beings, free to make moral decisions. There is of course always a way back, but only we can choose to take it. Thank God that we are offered the love and grace again – and again.



Peace,

Fr. Bob+