Twenty-sixth Sunday Ci Ordinary Time

On September 27, 1660, the priest Vincent de Paul died. The writer William Hünerman, in his biography of him, wrote that indeed the Lord Jesus welcomed him, saying, “I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; as a guest, I came, and you welcomed me; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was in prison, and you came to me; for whatever you did to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.” To St. Lazarus, where he was stretched out, came bishops and priests, people from the King of France and his court, Sisters of Charity, women of charity, and a whole army of the poor, the aged, the orphans, the sick, and the released convicts. They bade farewell to their benefactor.
On August 13, 1729, Pope Clement XI proclaimed Vincent de Paul the patron saint of humanity and blessed them, and on June 16, 1737, on the feast of the Holy Trinity in the Lateran Basilica, Clement XII declared him a saint. Even today, his name does not fade into the dust of history. This man’s name lives on today in his spiritual sons – Vincentians and Lazarists and the Daughters of Christian Charity – and in dozens of other religious orders, movements, communities, organizations, and especially charities.

How contrasting are these words about St. Vincent compared with the words of Abraham to the rich man in today’s Gospel: “Unless they listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe, even if someone rises from the dead” (Lk 16:31).

This well-known parable of the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus is recorded only by the Evangelist St. Luke. The Evangelist does not mention names in his Gospel, but he makes an exception in this case. The name Lazarus in Hebrew means “God helps.” Thus the title explains everything and characterizes the beggar. The remark about the dogs is also critical. In Scripture, and even today in Islam, the dog is seen as an unclean animal, and therefore the dog was despised. The misfortune of the beggar is also highlighted by the fact that he could not drive these unclean animals away from him, and what is more when these animals licked his sores, they caused him relief. This man is overlooked by another son of Abraham, the brother of Lazarus, the rich man. Interestingly, the rich man’s name is not mentioned in the parable, only the clothes and food, which are signs of wealth.
This parable has a significant meaning. According to the Semites, God determined who would be rich and poor. And in this parable, Jesus addresses the problem of wealth and poverty about eternal life. The Pharisees taught that wealth expresses God’s special favor and mercy. In the myth, the Lord Jesus points out that a bad attitude toward wealth creates the danger of losing eternal life. By this parable, the Lord Jesus is not condemning wealth when one has it, He is not condemning the rich, but He is pointing out the wrong attitude towards wealth where one can lose eternal life. Jesus warns the rich not to let their eyes be blinded by wealth, lest by its misuse and selfishness that often accompanies wealth, a man despises God, forgets his soul, and so condemns himself to eternal punishment. Jesus clearly articulates the teaching about man’s relationship to material values. Whoever puts anything before God excludes himself from the kingdom of God, and no one, not even Abraham, is in a position to change things. This is expressed in the words that answer the rich man’s plea to send Lazarus to his brothers’ house so that they might be saved at least. Abraham says: “And besides, there is a great gulf between us and you, so that no one – no matter how much he would – can cross over from here to you or from there to us” (Lk 16:26). The rich man suffers in the flame, tormenting himself because he forgot to listen to Moses and the Prophets and disbelieved their words. The parable is a souvenir so that man does not forget the meaning of his life on earth for earthly good.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is still relevant today. How quickly can we fail to see and hear the need of our surroundings? Instead, we notice that someone has something and is prospering. Capital increases, one gets higher in society, money opens doors to offices, careers, education… Communities of equals close in, where power begins to be born that dictates, represses, disrespects, they blind each other, they don’t see that they are heading for ruin, they support each other in the knowledge that money will be enough for everything, that it will open all the doors for them. We wrongly look upon these people with envy that they are prosperous, that they can own and afford everything that we can only dream of. But let us recall the words of the Lord Jesus, “Woe to you, rich men, for you have your consolation” (Luke 6:24). Woe is not because they have, they possess, because God wants people to have a good time. Woe because their hearts have grown dull and their eyes have become blind, their ears cannot hear, they have fallen into riches. They have forgotten God because of money. The commandments have lost their meaning for them. God has become unnecessary to them. Woe to those who want to be masters of the world. They forget to love and generosity; they have no time for God. Wealth seduces them; they desecrate Sundays and worship one another or what they own. The family – even if they own and lack nothing material – crumbles, respect for one another is lost, and often in their abundance, wealth, and luxury, they no longer know what they can afford and often end their lives in suicide. Wealth and money lead one to lose respect for one’s body. He sells his body, his honor, his name, he betrays his pride, he defiles what is supposed to be holy, he kills before birth and also to order, day and night, and security guards do not help. Money is not bad. They are needed today so that we can fulfill our mission on earth in conformity with the will of God. Money and wealth must not displace God from the first place that rightfully belongs to Him. Wealth must not become a killer of life on earth and eternal life for us.
The story tells of two brothers driven from their home by hunger. They came to a hermit who advised them to follow the tried and tested path. He admonished them not to take the course of the demon. They disobeyed him. After some time, they came to a heap of gold, “You go home for the cart, and I will keep watch here for the time being,” said the elder brother to the younger. On his way home, the younger one was wondering how to come to the other half of the gold, which belonged to the elder brother. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. He also took food from the house on the cart and poured poison into it. “I won’t share!” But the elder brother was thinking similarly. He found a hiding place, and when the brother came with the wagon, they shot him. He took the food the brother had brought, and in a moment, it was gone. The old hermit warned them, but they did not listen to him.

Jesus continues to teach us love, today. Are we aware of his words?
God can be bought even with money. Yes, if we understand the word “alms” correctly. “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may remain hidden. And your Father will reward you, for he sees even in secret” (Matt. 6:3-4). Christ’s resurrection is our guarantee. Lazarus is a witness to that truth. He who believes in God, even though he must know how to renounce, perhaps to rub hardship, maybe to make himself humble, knows how to be happy and can be satisfied.

We know from history that from such families, where the right parents knew how to educate their children in material values, to economize, to share, to offer even when they had reason enough, out of such families came people who were an asset, an enrichment, and a blessing to their times. This speaks to the fact that wealth is not an obstacle to salvation; conversely, even want, and lack can be an obstacle to salvation.
A little girl walked into a room on the door with a sign that said, “We make keys.” The little girl entered and greeted. “Are you making keys?” “Of course. We can make you one.” “Please make me a lucky key.” “I’d be happy to,” said the older gentleman, “but you must bring a sample here.” She mused, “Thanks!” She saluted and left. The key to happiness is thee to draw a specimen. Everyone sees their joy in something different.

Jesus gives us many hints in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Today’s world needs the right people like Vincent de Paul. Critical studies of him say that more money passed through his hands than the French banks had in total. With one hand, he received it, and with the other, he gave it where the need was most excellent. Although in the beginning, his father had a different plan for him; he would become a priest and support his family and siblings. Before his death, his father changed his mind and told Vincent: “My son, be the kind of priest God wants you to be!”
Today Christ reminded us of what He expects and asks us about material things, especially money. Let us not forget that the most beautiful monuments are built by love, generosity, and goodness in human hearts.