The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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A rich man feasts every day and ignores poor, hungry Lazarus lying right at his own gate
What is this parable?
This is a story Jesus tells, found only in the Gospel of Saint Luke. Lazarus is the only character in the parables to whom the Lord gives a name. Do not mix him up with Lazarus of Bethany, the friend of Jesus whom he raised from the dead.
The story
Jesus says: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.” (Lk 16:19). At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who only wished he could eat the scraps that fell from the table. The dogs came to him, but the rich man ignored him (cf. Lk 16:20-21).
Then the poor man died and was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham, where he was comforted. The rich man died too, and was in torment. He begged that Lazarus be sent to his father’s house to warn his five brothers who were still alive (cf. Lk 16:22-28). Abraham replied: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” (Lk 16:31).
What does Jesus want to teach you?
The rich man did not beat Lazarus. His sin was ignoring him, even though he lay right at his gate every day. The Lord does not teach that being poor gets you into heaven and being rich gets you punished. He teaches that riches are given to us to be shared, and that the way we live in this life decides the life to come.
The last sentence is very important too: God has already spoken to us through his Word. We do not need to wait for a miracle before we start living well; listen to the Word of God today.
A lesson for you
- Notice the classmates who are poor or left out, and be their friend.
- Practice sharing: some of your snacks, things you no longer use that are still good, a little of your savings for the poor.
- Listen carefully to the Word of God at Mass and live by it.
Identifying marks
- Lazarus in rags and barefoot, holding an empty bowl on the steps: the poor and hungry people God places right beside us, waiting for a little kindness.
- A closed iron gate decorated with gold: a closed heart; riches can become a wall between us and our brothers and sisters.
- The rich man in purple, sitting at a table loaded with food: someone who cares only about his own enjoyment; he is blamed not for being rich, but for ignoring the poor man.
- A dog lying next to Lazarus: in the parable the dogs come to him (cf. Lk 16:21), while the rich man, right next to him, ignores him.
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Compiled by i-Catholic · About