Twenty-sixth Sunday Gospel C

Jesus said to the Pharisees:" There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 

· Here is another parable reflecting Jesus’ teaching on the rich and the poor, an  emphasis in Luke’s Gospel.

o The rich man, in his luxury and comfort, is totally oblivious of the poor man. The rich man isn’t named, whereas the poor man is.

“When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.  The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 

· Notice that the poor man doesn’t go to heaven but into the bosom of Abraham. This is an indication that this is the state of existence of those who were awaiting redemption and the coming of the Messiah. It is to these that Jesus descended to before his resurrection to preach the good news of salvation.

· The underworld where there was torment is the hell that we understand.

“And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.  Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime  while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. 

Now, the rich man, deprived of his isolated comfort, recognizes the poor man as the beggar at   his door.  He did not provide for him on earth, but the rich man wants Lazarus to provide for him.

· Abraham reminds the rich man that he is where he is by his choice and Lazarus by his choice.

“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.’ 

· Those awaiting redemption were in one state of existence and those who chose to be alienated from God were in another. A state of clear separation existed.

“He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,  neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" 

· Why do you think Jesus ended the parable this way? Remember he was speaking to the  religious leaders  Jesus was predicting that even when he himself will rise from the dead and be seen by many to be alive,  many of the religious leaders still  would refuse to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

· What is our attitude towards our possessions? How readily do we share with others in need?

· Paul says that giving alms covers a multitude of sin. How do you understand this?

· What will change in your life as a result of your reflections on this parable?