Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 2nd Week of Lent - Thurs
[Jer 17:5-10 and Luke 16:19-31]'My child, remember that you received what is good during your lifetime while Lazarus received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' [Luke]
The Gospel According to Luke contains several parables that do not appear in the other three Among them are the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Rich Fool and, for today's gospel scripture, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. It can be a very chilling thought to realize that Lazarus may be at our very threshold and we are not "seeing" him! One might also recall in the Gospel According to Matthew [25:31-45], we read and hear the word "see:" "Lord, when did we SEE you hungry and did not feed you?"
There is a human tendency to objectify or categorize "the poor" and somehow remove them from our "sight." But they are there. The media occasionally speak of them as this or that "problem" in a certain location, e.g. the " problem of the homeless in such-and-such a city." I admire the college students I know who take part in such programs as Christ in the City that go directly to the poor in the streets to see them as fellow human beings and not as a problem to be solved. Yes, there are groups like the Salvation Army who serve the poor and homeless and churches that sponsor housing and "soup kitchens." All of these are wonderful, but do they have the unintentional effect of removing Lazarus from our threshold so that we do not "see" him? Or do we think that the "problem" is too big for one person to do anything significant about? But can we at least look outside our enclosed lives to see and respond to the needs of even one Lazarus at a time? This might be a Lenten resolution that could change our lives and the lives of those whom we "see." AMEN