How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea
and how many years must a people exist before they’re allowed to be free
yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
and pretend that he just doesn’t see?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind
the answer is blowing in the wind.
These lines seem to have a place in this weekend’s gospel passage. We know the story well. Lazaurs, a poor man, sits at the door of a wealthy man who fails to take notice of him. Lazarus, would willingly have eaten the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table but even these were not offered.
It is interesting that the poor man is named and the rich man is not. This flies in the face of society where we all know the names of the rich and famous, follow celebrity lifestyles and are interested in their comings and goings. Whereas the poor still can all to often go un-noticed and remain un-named. It is no accident that Jesus names the poor man. He is calling out to us to notice, recognise and respond to the needs of the poor. This is not always easy and, at times, can be very challenging but the call remains. We are asked to do what we can. It does not have to be over the top but efforts should be made to notice and care.
We are further told that when Lazarus died, he was carried to the “Bosom of Abraham” – to Heaven whereas the rich man died and “was buried.” We know the rest of the story.
During the week I was in New York and going down the excalator to Penn Station, I noticed a woman standing at the bottom of the steps. She was holding a cardboard notice in her hands. As I drew closer, I could read some of the writing: “I feel I am invisble. Nobody sees me. All that keeps me going is my faith.” She had her eyes closed and let the notice speak. Though I read the notice, I walked past her and feel guilty about that. It is so easy to walk past someone but not always the right thing to do. Sometimes we can justify it by saying if we gave money, the person might use it to buy drink or drugs – waste it. They might and that would be a pity but it should not stop us helping when we are able. Once we give the gift, it is no longer ours. Gift forfeits ownership and it is up to the recipient to do whatever with that gift. The hope is that he or she will do the right thing for themselevs and their families.
There is a wake taking place in the Parish Centre here today. It is a wake for a retired firefighter who died in recent days. On September 11th, 2001 he responded like many of his colleagues to the disaster unfolding at GROUND ZERO. His brother, a firefighter too, lost his life that day. This man suffered the effects of inhalation from that day and battled sickness through the years. May he rest in peace.
What does the firefigther do? He or she responds to the needs of others – they are at the end of the 911 call. Lazarus is the caller today and we are the ones asked to respond to his needs.
The death of this firefigther brings me back to my own teenaged years and watching an Irish Firefigther being interviewed on a late night chat show at home. He was speaking about a charity he was setting up. He went on to outline where the idea for and the need for this charity had its origins. He too had responded, with colleagues, to a 999 call. It was not a fire but a call to a flat where an old man lived. He lived alone and had not been seen for some time. They had to break into the flat and found the man dead there. He had been dead for sometime. May he rest in peace.
The man being interviewed, Willie Bermingham (R.I.P.), said he could not get the image out of his head. The man had died alone and had lived his final years in terrrible conditions. He died alone and surrounded by dreariness. He felt it should not have to be like that for anyone. Bermingham set up a charity. He called it ALONE.
Alone, because that is how the man died but also because he felt the very word had a message.
ALONE – A Little Offering Never Ends.
Lazarus deserves to be noticed.
About The Author
