The parable of the Rich Man (Dives in Latin) and Lazarus can be intimidating. Dives is not portrayed as evil. He obviously loves his brothers. He is a man of faith knowing Abraham. But he ends us in torment not so much because of something sinful that he did but on what he neglected to do. He did not see Lazarus at his gate as someone worthy of his care. The parable makes us conscious of the fact that there is a “Lazarus” or two at our gate as well. There is someone we walk by who is in need of kindness, some compassion. What Dives didn’t know, that we must learn, is that there isn’t anyone out there who isn’t our brother or sister.
