We Get It – Luke 16:19-31

A text – Luke 16:19-31

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹ who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. ²² The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ He called out, ‘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 agony in these flames.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. ²⁶ Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ ²⁷ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ ³⁰ He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ ³¹ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

A reflection:

Three characters inhabit this story that Jesus is telling at least to his disciples and perhaps to a larger audience including the scribes and Pharisees. Two characters have names and one does not: Abraham, the father of the Hebrew people, Lazarus, the poor man dumped in front of the gate of a rich house, and a rich man (who owned the house Lazarus landed in front of). We have only one sentence apiece describing how the two men lived. Then they each die. Immediately Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man was buried, a luxury Lazarus probably did not receive. But he is in Hades, the land of the dead, being tortured, all the while being able to see Lazarus and Abraham together. Used to commanding things to be done, he calls out to have Abraham so something for him. Abraham refuses – not only won’t he send Lazarus to him but he cannot. As if Lazarus is at both Abraham’s and the rich man’s command.

Then he asks Abraham for another favor, to send Lazarus to his brothers. Again, Abraham refuses. The rich man can’t order Abraham around, and Abraham will not disrupt the bliss of Lazarus. The rich man never does get it. Lazarus has perpetual heavenly bliss, and the rich man does not. Abraham puts an even finer point on it: Rich man, you have always known right from wrong; so have your brothers. You all have Moses and the prophets. Even Lazarus (and even Jesus?) rising from the dead will never be able to make you see what you already know to be true or get you to actually do it.

Is Jesus saying that all people who see a wrong and do not right it will be tormented in Hades when they die? Maybe. But he might be saying something else: If you, rich man, had had a right relationship with God the Creator, praying the psalms and loving your neighbor as yourself, you would never have ignored Lazarus. But you did not. Now no pleading from Hades on your part and no sending of Lazarus on Abraham’s part will change your willful blindness and the harms it could have helped.

Remember Mary’s Magificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; My spirit rejoices in God my Savior…He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness…He has scattered the proud in their conceit…He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly…The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty…

Mary got it. And we get it. You and I know that this is what God does because God loves and restores those who have been harmed and neglected. God has always promised to be this way. The rich man just didn’t get it. Ever. But you and I are not that stupid. We get it. And we have eyes to see and love our neighbor. 

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for showing us the rich man and Lazarus. Help us to remember your special love for the forgotten ones that many people ignore. Help us to get it that you always make sure they are cared for, and we can help. Amen.