Sep

(Sunday XXVI — C) A Lesson in Indifference (Luke 16:19-31)

Last Sunday’s lesson in Christian Business Management 101 is continued this Sunday with a lesson about indifference. The parable of Dives and Lazarus is a warning to those who enjoy an abundance in material things without being responsible for those who are poor. The story is developed along the lines of the reversal of fortunes, a theme that runs through the gospel of Luke.

Relevant Articles

Guide to the Reading of Luke 16:19-31

1. Luke 16:19-31 can be divided into two unequal parts using the criterion change of setting

19-21 Lazarus and Dives before death
22-31 Lazarus and Dives after death (setting: Sheol)

Verses 22-31 in turn can be divided into two sections using as criteria change of topic (of conversation between Abraham and Dives)

22-26: The reversed condition of Lazarus and Dives
27-31: The futility of not listening to Moses

Thus the following outline:

19-21 Dives and Lazarus in Life
22-31 Dives and Lazarus after this Life
- 22-26 The predicament of Dives and the Reversal of Fortunes
- 27-31 The futility of not listening to Moses and the prophets

Note that in all these conversations, Lazarus never speaks; it is father Abraham who defends his rest against the attempts of Dives to involve Lazarus in his predicament. If Dives did not mind Lazarus in life, Lazarus need not mind Dives in Sheol.

2. The Reversed Condition. The reversal of fortunes is one of the themes of the gospel of Luke. The rich, those who are filled now are already rewarded; in the next life, there will be nothing left for them. "Woe to you who are rich" Jesus would say, "you have received your consolation now". (Luke 6:24). In the Magnificat, Mary sang about this reversal of fortunes when praising the mighty arm of God "He casts down the mighty from their thrones, and raises up the lowly. He fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty. (Luke 1:52-53). In advising a dinner host to invite the poor and the lowly instead of those who can repay him back, Jesus emphasizes the aspect of repayment/reward. "Blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the dead." (Luke 14:14) It is as if associating with the poor and lowly now associates one with them when they receive their reward. Here, Abraham underlines the reversal simply: "Remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus received what was bad. But now he is comforted here, and you are tormented." (Luke 16:25).

3. The futility of not listening to Moses and the prophets. To the request that Lazarus be sent to the brothers of Dives to warn them of the reversal of fortunes, Abraham says that those who do not listen to Moses and the prophets will not listen to one who is risen from the dead. In the fact, the Law and the Prophets already warn of the reversal of fortunes. To note here is the phrase "one who is risen from the dead" since it can have two meanings: Lazarus himself, or the Risen One, Christ. Jesus, through Abraham, is saying that faith in Moses and the Law leads to faith in Him. Not to listen to the former is tantamount to not listening to Him.

Review of the Readings

The first reading is a denunciation of the nobility in Jerusalem for their lack of concern to the impending collapse of the kingdom of Samaria, here called "Joseph". Read this article: Ang Panaghoy para sa mga Walang-Malasakit. The indifference of the nobility anticipates the indifference of Dives to the plight of Lazarus in the gospel reading. The abundance of the feasts is highlighted: ivory beds for reclining that were imported, lambs and calves for food, wine drank from bowls, not cups, and the best oils for perfume. Even the music is improvised. They are so engrossed with the food and entertainment, and no one is concerned about the plight of a kingdom on its way to destruction.

The second reading from 1 Timothy 6:11-16 is Paul’s memorandum to the new bishop, Timothy.To be underline here is the phrase "noble confession" which is mentioned twice: the "noble confession" that Timothy made when ordained a bishop, and the "noble confession"that Jesus made before Pilate. This noble confession is that of total dedication to God and His Kingdom, until the coming of the Lord. The responsorial psalm that precedes the second reading praises God who in establishing his reign takes sides with the lowly and poor.

Suggestions for the Lesson

1. The most obvious lesson that can be drawn from the day’s liturgy is about the indifference of the rich towards the poor. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. And depending on the gravity of the omission, not even a plea of ignorance exonerates one from this.

Sins can be distinguished according to their objects, as can every human act; or according to the virtues they oppose, by excess or defect; or according to the commandments they violate. They can also be classed according to whether they concern God, neighbor, or oneself; they can be divided into spiritual and carnal sins, or again as sins in thought, word, deed, or omission. The root of sin is in the heart of man, in his free will, according to the teaching of the Lord: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man.” But in the heart also resides charity, the source of the good and pure works, which sin wounds. (CCC 1853)

Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin. (CCC 1859)

2. The Catechism points to the relationship between the petition "Give us this day our daily bread" to a commitment to be in solidarity with those who hunger

But the presence of those who hunger because they lack bread opens up another profound meaning of this petition. The drama of hunger in the world calls Christians who pray sincerely to exercise responsibility toward their brethren, both in their personal behavior and in their solidarity with the human family. This petition of the Lord’s Prayer cannot be isolated from the parables of the poor man Lazarus and of the Last Judgment. (CCC 2831)

3. The above paragraph links the parable of Dives and Lazarus with the Parable of the Judgment of the King in Matthew 25:31-46. This can also serve as a guideline for the preparation of a catechetical lesson or homily for this Sunday.

Luke 15:1-16
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek

1Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

4What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?

5And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:

6And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?

7I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.

8Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?

9And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost.

10So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

11And he said: A certain man had two sons:

12And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.

13And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.

14And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

15And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.

16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him.

Luke 16:19-31
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek

19There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day.

20And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,

21Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores.

22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell.

23And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:

24And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.

25And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.

26And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither.

27And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,

28That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.

29And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.

31And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.