Luke 16:19-31
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 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.”’
Today's passage is appropriate for the commemoration of today: World Refugee Day. There are more refugees and migrants in the world today than ever before in history, and with the ongoing climate collapse, we are probably at the tip of the proverbially melting iceberg.
What is our response to be? The rich man is condemned for showing no compassion, even though he knew Lazarus and probably saw him everyday. And we are, similarly, without excuse. We too have the law and the prophets and the resurrection that is alluded to in the last line of the story. Jesus calls us to have compassion, to saw the suffering around us and to reach out – not in hopelessness of despair but in small acts of great love. In these small acts, everything can change.
May we be filled with compassion. May we reach out to all who suffer, both near and far. May we see them and recognise the image of God in them. And may we love and act in love.