Introduction
Learning to Love and care: A Reflection on the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31).
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus gives a powerful message: how we treat others—especially the poor and suffering—matters deeply to God, both now and for eternity.
Text
The story shows a rich man, dressed in fine clothes and feasting daily, while a poor man named Lazarus lies hungry and sick at his gate. After they both die, their situations are reversed—Lazarus is comforted beside Abraham, while the rich man suffers in torment. The rich man, though he knew Lazarus’ name in life, never showed him love or care. Even after death, he still sees Lazarus as beneath him, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to serve him.
The Message for Us Today
Malady
Jesus told this story to challenge those who love money and justify themselves by the standards of the world. The lesson is clear: we learn to love others now—especially those in need. If we don’t, we may find that we’ve missed the very heart of what it means to live as God intended or as Christians.
Judgment
God’s judgment in this story is not about wealth itself but about failing to love and care for the needy. The rich man didn’t go to Hades because he was wealthy, not because he dressed nice clothes, not because he had partied, but because he ignored the suffering person right in front of him. The real tragedy is not his wealth, but his hardened heart like Pharaoh’s!
Gospel:
God Sees and Loves the Poor. This parable is also a word of hope to those who are struggling. Lazarus’ name means “God has helped,” and his story reminds us that God does not forget the poor, the hurting, or the overlooked. There will be a day when justice is done, and the lowly are lifted up.
Reflection
The Time to Love Is Now!
The rich man wanted to warn his family, but Abraham tells him: “They have Moses and the prophets.” In other words, God has already given us all we need to know—through Scripture, through Jesus, and through the Church. The time to respond with love and compassion is now.
The church
The Church as a School of Love. The church exists to help us learn how to love and care. It’s not just a place of worship—it’s a community where we are taught to love God and love our neighbor. Through all our ministries—whether children’s programs, youth events, fellowship groups, or outreach—we are practicing the way of Jesus together.
Church brings people from all walks of life into one family. Baptized into Christ, we are sent out to share God’s love with the poor, the lonely, the hurting, and the forgotten.
Thus a Simple, Life-Changing ministry. In the end, Jesus doesn’t ask us to fix all the world’s problems. He simply asks us to learn to love and care. To notice those in need. To respond with kindness. To bear the light of Christ into a world that desperately needs it.
Application
Beloved, that’s our ministry as Christians: To learn that we are loved and cared for. To return that love to God. And to share it with one another because of Christ who first loved and cares for us!
Conclusion
Jesus was rich: Before his incarnation, Jesus possessed divine glory and all heavenly wealth as the Son of God. He became poor to redeem humanity, Jesus took on human form, a humble birth, and a life of poverty, lacking his own possessions and a permanent home.
He did all these for us that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9): Through his poverty, believers gain access to God’s riches, which are spiritual and eternal, such as a relationship with God, divine power, love, peace, and eternal life.
Amen.