THE THOUGHT TODAY

21/09/10
For Love Of Our Brother
Luke 16: 27-29

In Luke, Jesus tells a story of a rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had everything to his ease and
enjoyed the fruits of his labour. As so often happens, when we are consumed with and by our many
material possessions, we give short shrift or scant regard to others who are not equally blessed. In fact,
we oftentimes find our brothers in need to be tiresome and a bother as we confront and turn away from
their various needs day in day out.

We know very well how the story ends, with Lazarus dying and going to a place of peace and rest in
Abraham's bosom where he received eternal comforts. By contrast, the rich man died and because of
his spiritual poverty and lack of concern for others outside himself and his immediate circle of friends,
he went to a place of eternal spiritual and other torment. Interestingly, from there he could see, across
an impassable divide, a joyful and happy Lazarus.

He appealed to Father Abraham. “Please allow Lazarus to come and dip the tip of his finger in water to
cool my tongue and ease my torment in this eternal flame.” When Abraham tells him that there is an
impassable gulf between Lazarus' new home and the rich man's new home of torment, we hear an
amazing and unexpected request from the rich man.

“Father Abraham, I hear, I understand and I accept that once you reach here you can't cross over. I also
agree that I did not show the love and concern for others that I should have shown during my earthly
journey. I was mainly concerned about the well being of myself, my immediate family and friends.
Maybe I am being selfish again and caring only about my own. Father Abraham please grant me one
last favour. I withdraw my request for Lazarus to come this side. I don't want another person to follow
or join me here. I have five brothers who are still alive. I know them well. I don't want them to
experience what I am going through. Please Father Abraham, send Lazarus to them, at my father's
house, to warn them, so that they may change their ways.”

As I reflected on this story today, it came home to me, that over the years, I have read this story often
and only paid attention to the rich man and saw only his callous treatment of another human being -
Lazarus. Instinctively I dismissed him as one of the cruel, selfish, uncaring wealthy persons we find
in every age and land who have little regard and concern for others outside their immediate family and
circle of friends. It struck me forcibly today, for the first time, that this rich man's experience in the
place of torment, brought out in him a deep, loving, noble concern (albeit for his own brethren) which
was in stark contrast to his treatment of Lazarus.

I trust that as we reflect on this often missed part of our story, (caring concern for others) may this
story of love of our own brothers (kin) move us to reach and help others choose a path which rescues
falling men and women and leads to eternal life

Today
Ashley R Cain
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