The name Lazarus means ‘God Helps’.
At the time this story was told, wealth was understood to be a sign of God’s favour and poverty a sign of God’s displeasure. Imagine the shock for the hearers of this story. It is not the rich man but Lazarus, who longed to satisfy his hunger, who is brought into eternal favour.
Another example where the gospel of Jesus upturns the values of the day. How might we continue to discern how it is to live responsibly?
What choices do we make? Do we misplace trust in God, do we place our trust in wealth, and comfortable lifestyle to the exclusion of others?
How might we turn our back on the values of the day as we seek to meet the need of those in our society in active and visible ways?