The gospel of
today (the 26th Sunday in the Ordinary Time) is about the Rich man
and Lazarus (cf. Lk 16: 19-31). The story reflects the beliefs about the life
after death. Jesus wants to tell us that the existence of two classes of
people, the rich and the poor, is against God’s plans. The goods of this world
are for all and must be shared; whoever has more must give to the one who has
less or has nothing, so as to reach equality (cf. 2 Cor 8: 13). All must be
able to live a life worthy of human beings. Thus before one can get luxury
goods for oneself, all must have satisfied others’ essential needs.
This Lucan
episode is a two-tiered (vv. 19-26, 27-31) example story which focuses on the
rich man, his five brothers and the readers. It asks: will the five
brothers and readers follow the example of the rich man or heed Jesus’ teaching
and that of the Old Testament about care of the needy like Lazarus and thus be
children of Abraham? If the five brothers and the readers do not follow the
teaching of Jesus, they will not have a share at the messianic banquet.
The first
section of the text does not give indication that the rich man was guilty of
moral wrong or, for that matter, that Lazarus, who represents the poor persons,
was morally right hence saved sola gratia.
Thus there is reason to hold that vv 19-26, by itself, may condemn the rich
because they are rich and bless the poor because they are poor (see Lk 1:
51-53; 6: 20-26).
The second part
of the story vv 27-31, continues the dialogue between the slow-witted rich man
and Father Abraham and clearly shows that the rich man’s failure to care for
Lazarus was not in accord with Old Testament and with Jesus’ teaching.
