What Matters: Lazarus, Abraham and Jesus

In the middle of the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31), Jesus tells a haunting parable about a rich man, a poor man (Lazarus) and a heavenly messenger (Abraham). 

It would be easier if the parable simply spoke about ultra rich, but the more we ponder it, the more we realize it is about us, our money and the people in need around us.  The parable makes abundantly clear, that in God's eyes, Lazarus and others in need are in help and in need of care.  Which makes us wonder -- do we do enough for the Lazarus's of our lives?  Are we like Abraham (or even Jesus), who show unending compassion for those in need?

The more we ponder the parable, the more we realize that we too are in need of help, help that only Jesus can give.

The artwork is by James Tissot and is housed at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.