**

 

Lazarus and Dives (Latine derivation for rich man=proper name in time) have reversals in the story from a God's eye point of view. It pulls on the gospels earlier warning about wealth( Lk. 1, 6). Notice that we are not told about their moral lives at all. Jesus tells a fire and brimstone story, but it is not about following the 10 Commandments, nor about the mode of baptism, it is about how we treat each other. even the word for joy takes on two meanings from the the prodigal or the banquet here with the heavenly joy in heaven over the return of the lost.

 

Lazarus's name may well mean God helps (Eleazar), but it seems he has few blessings. He does not  even get crumbs while the rich are filled; they eat as in animals eating at a trough not dining (McGovern's daughter and death outside. the bosom of Abraham=highest bliss. Maybe Lazarus and the rich man both saw bliss as dining at a fabulous banquet, but Jesus says that is nothing compared to the great banquet of the culmination of history. Here we run up against the propserity gospel-

aren't blessing a sign of God's favor? Not to Jesus, indeed his words in Clarence Jordan's vernacular of the Southern poor says-"no more running errands for you."   NIB's commentary on the passage says  rich man cut himself off from Lazarus; maybe Lazarus was invisible to him, and now no one can reach him. There's a good definition of hell, cut off, cut off even from God. In the first movie Wall Street, Gekko says greed is good, but Martin Sheen says money makes you do things. In the new movie Gekko cannot reach his daughter, no matter how much influence he can buy. In its way, it is a contemporary parable of the allure and the downside of an obsession with more. The characters try to to reach out, but they can express themselves only within the culture of money. They make merry but happiness eludes them. So it may be appropriate to close with a monetary metaphor.

 

Maybe the old line from a hymn captures our mood:"rich in things and poor in soul".  The answer in Timothy is to be rich in generosity and good works. Where is the line between enjoying money and loving it? Generosity may be a key? The passage does not say that money is the root of all evil. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evils.

 

A virtue that defends against the love of money is contentment and giving space toward filling life with virtues. How does one learn contentment? Is it a pure gift or do we make a decision for it? Why is contentment not the same as settling, as being stuck in a rut? When is enough, enough? When can we say "That's plenty", instead of the craving for more. Just having the basics is enough, this letter says. Everything else is trying to stifle an unquenchable thirst that will not be slaked.I saw the Russian owner of the NJ Nets brag about the model of his yacht, but he had no idea where it was docked or when he was on it most recently.  If you like baseball, look into the divorce case over ownership for the LA Dodgers. The sense of the passage seems to be not relying on others for happiness, but tapping into the the God stream within where the  heart's content is found. (see Sir 27:1) Look at spiritual practices as a spiritual nest egg, or an open line of credit. With God debts are forgiven. With God the balance sheet is thrown away. With God the only interest is interest in us living an abundant life.