RBWords

     As a matter of material fact, Lazarus was indeed at the door of the house of "Dives" (the name tradition has given to the rich man - which means "rich!").  As a matter of moral fact, Lazarus was invisible to Dives!  It is this matter of obtuse unawareness that represents the tragedy of Dives!  Indeed, it is not simply the tragedy of Dives but the tragedy for many people. The poor are "invisible" to us!  By the standards of Jesus' day, Dives had an obligation to share his bounty with Lazarus and the poor of his area.  It is not as if he refused.  He was blind to the beggar at his door!  He had forgotten what Moses and the prophets had commanded about being sensitive to the needs of the poor in the community.  Indeed, the last line of the story says that Dives was so far gone that even if someone returned from the dead to warn his relatives (who seem also to be unaware), it would not make a difference!

     This is not simply a matter of individual failure, it is a cultural tragedy of enormous and international proportions!  The number of people who live in abject physical misery is almost beyond counting.  What we take for granted in everyday life - food, shelter, electricity, running water, clothing  and so much more - is completely unavailable in many areas of our planet!  Pope Paul VI referred to the form of "Real Presence of Christ" in the faces of the poor.  This kind of real presence is not as easy as that which we enjoy at the Eucharist.  It is more difficult, inconvenient, threatening at times, angering, etc..  Yes, there are some wonderful agencies such as Catholic Relief Services and Doctors without Frontiers, and the many "mission trips" sponsored by churches that do good work.  All of this is good, but we also need to ask who is at our door.  That can be more revealing to us about ourselves.  What will it take to "wake us up?"  AMEN