Lk 16:19-31
[Jesus said to the Pharisees,] 19“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 20And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 22When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ 25Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. 26Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
27He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ 29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 30He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
Dives and Lazarus: The name Dives (dives is Latin for “rich man”) is often given to the unnamed rich man in the parable. Lazarus is an abbreviation of Eleazar (“God helps”). Besides its use in the Lucan parable here, the name appears in John, where Lazarus is the brother of Martha and Mary, the “beloved” whom Jesus raises from the dead (Jn 11:1-44). Luke also features the sisters Martha and Mary who welcome Jesus into their home (Lk 10:39).
Luke consistently highlights the plight of the poor. For him, discipleship is synonymous with service that finds expression in the care of the needy. It is not his wealth that causes the rich man’s condemnation but his uncaring attitude in the face of Lazarus’ misery. Being rich, he is culturally obliged to give alms. Any windfall of wealth is to be distributed; to hoard it is to be greedy.
The rich man represents those who fail to see the face of Jesus in the suffering person at their doorsteps. On the last day, these will be told by Jesus: “What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me” (Mt 25:45).