Stroll through Scripture for March 30, 2025

Based on Luke 16:19-31

Let’s cut to chase – Jesus is talking about money.  Uncomfortable yet?  But let’s be a bit more specific here.  It’s not just about money, but how money can blind people from seeing the humanity of others – even those right in front of them.  

Jesus is telling a parable.  He has an unnamed rich man and a named poor man.  This flips the script.  Usually, it is the rich who have the dignity of a name, while the poor end up with a label.  We shouldn’t be surprised by this flip though – Jesus has been flipping the script on a variety of things throughout his ministry.  

Throughout the parable, the rich man never actually learns to see the humanity of Lazarus.  He misses his humanity when they were both alive.  He misses his humanity in death too – trying to order Lazarus to cool him off and to send a warning to family.  He just doesn’t get it.  Amazing for a man who supposedly has everything.  While he may have had immeasurable material wealth, he lacked in so many other things.  

Lazarus is named, but we never hear from him.  Instead, Abraham speaks on his behalf.  Maybe Jesus has Abaraham do this because he knows the rich man would never listen to Lazarus anyway – he never did in life.  Jesus has Abraham acting in an advocacy capacity – being with Lazarus, the poor man, and amplifying his humanity.  

When I read this parable, I hear Jesus’ frustration, or maybe the better term is acceptance.  He’s accepting the reality of human history that those with power, wealth, and might are awfully stiff necked.  They refuse to learn or listen, preferring to continue to believe that they are in control.  Control is such an addiction for humanity that has caused so much pain and suffering.  

I wonder what this parable would sound like in 2025 America.  There are plenty of billionaires to choose from.  And certainly, plenty of poor people like Lazarus.  It doesn’t seem like it would take much to adapt the story to our culture.  The point isn’t to shame the rich.  The rich need salvation just like everyone else.  It’s only a question of what they need to be saved from.  The rich and poor are more alike than most people like to admit.  Both rich and poor are associated with what they possess or lack – it’s how so many determine their value.  In essence, both are dehumanized, just in different ways.  I wonder if humanity will ever learn. 

Questions for reflection:

• Rewrite the parable in our current context.  How much did you have to change?  What do you make of this?