The last parable of Jesus in Chapter 16 of Saint Luke’s gospel (16:19-31) further clarifies the challenge to all of us to use wealth wisely in this life so that one gains an eternal home.
Money-lovers and the poor
Everyone can have use of money in this world, but the question is how and for what purpose. For the use we put money into determines if it is a wealth that is dishonest and dangerous, or true and beneficial. Jesus addressed Himself to the Pharisees who were known as money-lovers (Luke 16:14) and who sneered at Him. What they esteem, is it in fact an abomination in the sight of God? The rich man in the story (traditionally called dives which Latin term means “rich”) dedicated himself to a life of pleasure in this world. His purple and fine linen clothing indicate that in lifestyle he was in the league of kings and princes. And while he feasted sumptuously every day, at his door in sharp contrast was a man in pathetic poverty, Lazarus.
The indigents will always be around (Mark 14:7). Not only is this an imperfect world, paradoxically enough the poor have come to mean God’s special blessing to the rich, if only they knew. Lying at the rich man’s door, Lazarus would have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. But no one paid attention to him; only dogs would come to lick at his sores. Lazarus was ritually unclean, and his very situation justified the self-righteous in their mind that he was a sinner; he was being shunned and his abject poverty was considered his just punishment. The rich man was a much honored individual, whose wealth was looked upon as indicative of divine favor to him.
In the light of eternity
Death puts things in their real perspective (Luke 12:20). The great equalizer now unveils the real score, a complete reversal of the situations of the two men in eternity. Lazarus (the name means “He whom God helps”) is immediately carried away by the angels to the solace of the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man found himself in the netherworld of torment. The just person is seated in the place of honor at the right hand or near the bosom of the host in the eternal banquet. The wastrel of a rich man in his now nebulous and joyless existence can only look at Lazarus from afar.
Death is final and eternity is irreversible. The rich man’s request for relief that Lazarus be sent for a few drops of water reflects his ongoing, if scaled down, thirst for pleasure and comfort. Too late a discovery of what Lazarus could mean for him; wallowing in wealth here on Earth he should have understood that helping the poor, like Lazarus, at his door is a true brokerage of salvation. It is here in this world that we have the chance to help each other become more human by attending to other people’s needs. What golden opportunities the rich have to share in charity with the less fortunate! The epitome of prudence and wisdom in the proper use of material wealth, charity would have gained him an eternal home in everlasting happiness. In last Sunday’s term: “Make friends for yourselves with…wealth. So that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
Alálaong bagá, it is in this life or never that merciful love benefits not only the receiver but also the giver. The rich man’s second request wishing to spare his brothers the same stupid fate he suffered got the same denial. You begin the life of love here and now, not later, or it would be too late. To be a disciple of Jesus is a demanding vocation that requires continual conversion. It demands a detachment from everything, even one’s possessions and one’s life, that is, the wisdom not to be rich for oneself only, but to grow rich in what “matters to God” (Luke 12:21). Earthly riches used in charity can mean eternal fulfillment and beatitude.
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