We are presented a powerful image in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, and it is one that should strike a bit of fear in us as we meditate on what it means to live in the richest country in the world.
Our Lord presents to us the image of Lazarus, a poor beggar who stood outside the gates of a rich man, seeking only to feed himself from the crumbs that were thrown out after one of the glorious feasts a rich man would throw. The scripture continues and tells us how both men passed away…but we notice how differently their deaths were described. Lazarus, who had lived through many trials and tribulations…having never been shackled with a love of money because he had none…was carried by angels into Paradise. The rich man also died, but scripture simply tells us he was buried…not just in the ground, but in the torments of Hades.
Divine Justice is complete. “There was a time when the rich man had seen Lazarus cast down in front of the gate, a victim of hunger, writhing on the ground in the dust unable to move, and he turned a blind eye. Now that he is lying in the depths, buried, being tortured and cannot escape his torments, he looks up and sees Lazarus comfortably settled high above, passing his time in profound ease and dwelling in Abraham’s bosom.”[1]
We notice next how the rich man doesn’t repent. St. Gregory Palamas points this out in his homilies on this passage:
“The rich man doesn’t say “Have mercy on me, for I have kindled this fire and stored up these torments for myself. Instead of the sound of flutes, hand-clapping, and disgusting songs, I now hear shouts, wailing, and the horrible noise of the fire raging around me. Instead of sweet fragrances, I smell the fumes of the fire. Instead of abundant food and drink and the pleasures they brought, I now have my tongue utterly parched by this fire and am without even a drop of water. Instead of the flames of impure passion, the fire consumes my whole body.””[2]
He doesn’t repent or ask for forgiveness, but rather asks Lazarus to come and to help quench the pain that the rich man himself had created in his life.
For everyone listening to the words of the Gospel, the words coming from our Savior’s lips, this is a scary image. Do you want to know why the Rich Man doesn’t have a name in this parable? Because all of us here today are the rich man! Whether we have full time well-paying jobs, are living out our years on a fixed income in retirement, or are receiving welfare checks from the government…this is US the Gospel is talking about! We have been given an abundance from God. All of us reading this have a roof over our heads, and access to food and running water. We eat sumptuously. We attend parties and celebrations with one another…and if we are not careful, the parable tells us the fate of each and every one of us here today. This is scary stuff!
The good news, and the shining light in this frightening parable, is the other rich man who is given a name by our Lord. Abraham had tremendous wealth in this life! Genesis recounts how he had servants, lots of silver and gold, tons of land, and an abundance of livestock. Yet what makes Abraham different than the rich man?What makes him different than we who are listening this morning? He had an overabundance of virtue. Abraham used what God had given him not for himself, but rather to show his love back to God, to have compassion on others, and to show hospitality to strangers.
In light of this parable, let’s take a moment to examine our own attitudes towards the wealth that we have been given. It is not a sinful to have wealth, but we must be incredibly careful how we use the gifts God has given us. In order to do that, God taught us an important virtue that protects us from falling into the trap of the Rich Man: The Tithe!
Contrary to popular belief, Tithing isn’t for the Church! The Church is a non-profit, and it isn’t meant to make money! Tithing is for us! It forces us to correctly prioritize our lives, so that we don’t put our own comfort and desires above Christ, the Church, and each other. We are called to give a percentage of our FIRST FRUITS back to God…not the crumbs that fall at the end of our monthly budgets.
If we are on a fixed income, yet are spending more in Netflix and peacock subscriptions than what we are giving weekly to the Church…there is a tremendous imbalance in our life’s priorities. If we have well-paying jobs and are pulling in six figures a year, and yet donate to the Church and Charities few hundred dollars a month, there is a disconnect within our souls.
Dear ones, if tithing isn’t a part of our spiritual life, we must ask our self why? Our Lord tells us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also”…and if our treasure is somewhere other than the Christ’s church…where is our heart?
I don’t offer many homilies or articles on how to deal with abundance, and for that I ask your forgiveness. I came from a financial background, and perhaps subconsciously I have tried to steer clear of mentioning how to deal with wealth too often in my homilies, but this lesson is an important one for us. It’s something our Lord talked about and warned about often in the Holy Scriptures:
“You cannot serve both God and Mammon…for what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:13-15)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
“It is easier for a camel to enter into the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew, Mark and Luke)
Tithe of your treasurers and of yourself dear ones. May our Lord continue to guide us, and lead us to clarity in our lives…so that do not become just another nameless victim of our own selfishness…but rather be given an eternal place in the mansion of the righteous with Christ who we offer our entire life to…Amen
[1] St. Gregory of Palamas, Homily 48:8 “On the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus”
[2] St. Gregory of Palamas, Homily 48:10 “On the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus”