Woe to you who are rich
Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and a man named Lazarus in Luke 16: 19-31. ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.’
Pope Francis in his book, ‘Let us Dream’, interprets this parable, not as one of wealth but of indifference,
‘The rich man was his neighbour; he knew perfectly well who Lazarus was - even his name. But he was indifferent, he didn’t care. To the rich man, Lazarus’s misfortune was his own affair. He proabably said ‘Poor thing’ every time he passed him at the gate, peering at him over an abyss of indifference. He knew Lazarus’s life but didn’t let it affect him.’
So often this is the way of the wealthy. It is one of indifference ‘It is his own fault that he is a beggar’ ‘he is lazy’ ‘he is paying for sins’ - it has nothing to do with me!!
This week’s Gospel Luke 6: 17-26 ‘Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation’ is a call to be our brother’s keeper. Wealth is a blessing, it is not due to our own machinations, we are stewards of the wealth we have received. When we recognize that wealth is a gift entrusted to us, rather than something we possess solely by our own merit, our perspective shifts from ownership to responsibility.
The rich man in the parable failed, not because he was wealthy, but because he ignored Lazarus—he refused to see his wealth as a means to serve others. Jesus’ warning in Luke 6:17-26 challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we use what we have to uplift those in need, or do we remain indifferent, content with our own comfort?
True discipleship calls us to bridge the abyss of indifference, to see and respond to the suffering around us, recognizing in each person the face of Christ.
To be wealthy is to be responsible. It means recognizing that what we have—whether material wealth, talents, or opportunities—is not ours to hoard but to share. Jesus calls us to be stewards, not just of our own well-being, but of the needs of those around us. Indifference builds barriers, but compassion opens gates.
Like the rich man in the parable, we are faced with a choice: will we turn a blind eye to the Lazaruses at our doorstep, or will we reach out in love and generosity? True wealth is found not in what we keep, but in what we give.
Friend, it is in this vein, I thank those of you, who have agreed to be patrons to this newsletter and ministry. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity. May He let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.