He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (v. 31)
COMPASSION AT THE GATE
When I read this text, I’m reminded of the saying, "Seeing is believing." The rich man never saw the beggar Lazarus, because Lazarus lay outside the gate some say the rich man had built. The gate blocked his view. If he didn’t see the beggar, then the beggar didn’t exist, and the rich man didn’t feel compelled to do anything.
Later, both Lazarus and the rich man die, and their roles are reversed. After being refused a drop of water to quench his thirst in Hades, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers so they will believe and not end up like him. But Abraham responds that if they did not listen to Moses and the prophets, then they will not listen and be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.
There are beggars and homeless at the gates of our towns and communities. Like the rich man, we can choose not to see them or we can choose to treat them compassionately. Like the rich man, we can choose to ignore Moses and the prophets or we can choose to listen.
Unlike the rich man, we are Christians. The seeds of faith and love have been planted in our hearts. The love of Christ that dwells in us helps us see the less fortunate who live outside our gates and show compassion, just as God showed compassion to us through the death of his only son. Unlike the rich man, we have the love of Christ, who rose from the dead, to dwell in us and to help us turn back and hear God’s word and obey.
May the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us continue to open our eyes to see and our hearts to hear.
Caroline Lohmann
