Luke 16:19-31

“In your lifetime you received good things, … and Lazarus evil things;

But now he is comforted, and you are tormented.”

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:19-21a).

Brethren, who among us is the rich man? Who among us: the beggar? We hear this parable of our Lord and we think, “Good for him! Good for the rich man! He did not take care of Lazarus! He ignored the afflictions of his neighbor! He had so much surplus, and he could spare none of it to help this poor beggar! Now he is receiving his just desserts! Good for him!”

            In Jesus’ day, brethren, society was already extremely, financially stratified. It has been so ever since the dawn of human civilization. Men owning other men: slavery; the rich and the poor; nobility and peasantry; the bourgeoise and the proletariat. There are many reasons for this wealth divide, and the comfortability (or un-comfortability) of living that accompanies all classes. Some folks are poor because they are lazy, or stupid, or irresponsible. That might be the least “politically correct” thing I’ve ever said in a sermon. Gasp. Indulge me for a moment. It is old wisdom. Proverbs 10:4, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Oh, well, it’s actually old and biblical wisdom.

            Some folks are poor because they are lazy. But some folks are poor because of manifold circumstances beyond their control. Some folks are rich because of an uncompromising, diligent, entrepreneurial ethic. Some folks are rich because great, great grandpap was hardworking and entrepreneurial, and they are merely the inheritors of good fortune. Wealth can be earned, and wealth can be unearned. Poverty can be earned, and poverty can come unearned and un-deservingly.

            In today’s Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, our Lord does not offer us these kinds of insights. We know only a few things: Dives (so called in our Orthodox Tradition), that is, the “rich man” was rich, and Lazarus was poor. Why exactly? We do not know. Dives profited, in physical and social comforts, from his wealth, and Lazarus suffered on account of his poverty. Dives had the means to help Lazarus and chose not to do so. Notice: we are told that Lazarus was daily “laid at [Dives’] gate.” The rich man did not need to “go out of his way” to help Lazarus. This was not a case of, “Well, I would have helped him; I didn’t know he needed any help.” No, the rich man would have had to consciously and presently pass Lazarus by. He was a callous and cruel, hardhearted and selfish man, clearly! Lazarus did not long for his robes, his bed, his furniture, his sumptuous foods. No, but “he [desired] to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:21; italics mine). The crumbs… the crumbs! How cruel must this rich man have been.

            We know too well the remainder of the Parable. Dives is punished in Hades. Lazarus is comforted in Abraham’s bosom.

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you not know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:17-20).

Why is Dives in Hades? He was a sinful, selfish, inhospitable, uncharitable man. Why is Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom? Because he suffered in the flesh. This is not my interpretation of the parable. This is the parable’s own interpretation, spoken by Father Abraham to Dives,

“Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented” (Luke 16:25).

“But now he is comforted, and you are tormented.” Terrifying, absolutely terrifying. I ask again, brethren: who among us is the rich man? Who among us: the beggar? Why have we been given our wealth? What use is our income, our wages, our assets, our “private property,” if it is not to the glory of God, the edification of the people of God, the care of the poor? We may contest: “But I have worked hard for my things! I have earned my things! I deserve my things! I want them! I need them!” Psalm 24, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

            Today, brethren, we begin a new catechesis on stewardship. If you are uncomforted, even slightly, by this sermon, you will be more uncomforted by our study. The Scriptures have so much to say about our wealth, about the proper and good use of our possessions. We may even say that how we handle our finances, our gifts and talents and responsibilities, our possessions: this affects our salvation.

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34).

It is St. John Chrysostom, who commenting on this passage, tells his flock, “The poor, they are the treasure of the Church!” If Lazarus had been Dives’ treasure, and not just some “filthy eyesore at his gate,” then Dives’ heart would have been with his treasure, comforted in the bosom of Abraham.

            Wealth, brethren, riches, is not forbidden in Scripture. We read over and over again—especially in the Wisdom Literature—that wealth is often the result of hard work. Wealth can be earned, and even should be earned. Strive for wealth, if you are able to do so justly! And then, glorify God with your wealth. Edify his people. Bless the poor. Do not build storehouses (cf. Luke 12), but build “the storehouses of heavenly gifts.” Many a temple has been built by an affluent patron, and they are honored in our iconography, and some, commemorated as saints.

            Thank God for wealthy Christians! Thank God for wealthy Christians who use their wealth in the service of his kingdom, who when they see Christ naked and hungry do clothe him and feed him. The Church does not despise wealth, brethren. The Church does not despise property. But rather, the Church orients these things as she does all things: towards God and the building up of the heavenly Kingdom. We do not despise wealth; we do not despise matter. But in both we glorify God, knowing that, in the words of St. Peter,

“As each one has received… [so] minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet 4:10).     

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.      

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!