Sunday 30 September 2007
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table..." (v.19-21)
Background
The writer of Luke's Gospel has brought together a collection ofparables told by Jesus. These are stories full of meaning aboutJesus and the ways of God in the world. The story of the Rich Manand Lazarus stresses the great responsibility laid upon those whoare wealthy.
The setting of the story draws on some images of life after deathwhich were common at the time. These should not, however, be usedto develop ideas of the nature of heaven and hell. The settingmerely emphasises in a vivid way the importance of treating thosein poverty with justice and kindness.
This, the rich man fails to do, and Lazarus (meaning 'God helps')is left poor and suffering at his gate. Realising the error of hisways, the rich man wishes to warn his family, but the Hebrewscriptures ('Moses and the prophets') clearly already teach justicefor the poor and people refuse to listen.
Even if someone rises from the dead to warn them - such as Jesusperhaps - people will continue to ignore the plight of the poor;this is not the way of God.
To Ponder
Who are the poor in your community, this country,the world? What does it mean for them to be treated with justiceand kindness?
At this Harvest season we are in the middle ofBritish Food Fortnight