THE SILENT POOR

The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is an excellent statement of Christian social justice.

Luke is famous in reversing the fortunes. For example, in the Magnificat, Mary sang praises to the Lord because He puts down the mighty and exalted the lowly, fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty (Luke 1:52-53). In this parable, the rich man is anonymous while the poor man has a name, the very opposite of what is happening in the society. Here in Hong Kong, who doesn't know Li Kar Shing, the richest man perhaps even in Asia Pacific? After their death, the poor Lazarus was carried by angels to heaven while the rich man was buried in Hades (16:22). Of course, I am not saying Li Kar Shing will suffer the same fate because of his riches. God will decide, not me nor any readers of the parable. Why then did Luke reverse the fortunes of the rich man and Lazarus?

Throughout the parable, Lazarus is silent while the rich man talks a lot. How true it is! Not only do the poor struggle with a lack of resources, they also suffer from a lack of media for them to voice their plights. Media professionals do not find the poor newsworthy. They pay attention to the rich, the celebrities because their news sell.
What sin does the rich man commit? What is wrong being rich? There is nothing wrong being rich as long as they do something to improve the situation of the voiceless poor. Do they not have the freedom to spend their money in whatever way they want? Yes they do. Are they not entitled to enjoy the fruit of their hard work? Yes they are. That is why Jesus does not force us to give up all our riches to follow him. He only invites us to do so. So, what wrong has the rich man done? The answer is simple.

We are brothers and sisters, the rich and the poor. We are all children of our Heavenly Father. Then are the rich keepers of their poor brothers? Yes they are. So, they are immoral when they neglect the plights of the poor. In the Lenten message this year, Pope Francis reminds us that the silent Lazarus is an invitation for us to repent. Through the poor, God quietly invites us to partake in His mercy. As long as there are poor people around, and there always are, we still have the opportunity to receive God's mercy. But when our hearts become numb and then hardened by riches, we risk ignoring God's mercy. Consequently, we are doomed to Hades.

Heavenly Father, make me not turn a blind eye to the needy. Let me see You in my poor neighbour. Strengthen my reluctant heart to extend a helping hand. Amen.