If I Were A Rich Man - Sunday Homily

The Fiddler on the Roof was a famous 1964 musical with over 3,000 performances on Broadway.  We all know its popular song entitled:  “If I were a Rich Man.”  It begins:  "Dear God, you made many, many poor people.  I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.  But it's no great honor either!  So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?"

It’s sung by Tevye the main character who is a poor milkman dreaming of all the material comforts wealth would bring him. He sang of buying an enormous house with needless luxuries even having a third staircase leading nowhere just for show. He sang of wealthy servants for his wife, fancy clothes for her pleasure and mountains of food.  I mention this musical because our readings give us a stark contrast between the life of the very rich and the very poor.

Many of us sometimes dream like Tevye. But our readings tell us to beware of such dreams and the risks of wealth. For example, in Amos we hear of the rich lying upon beds of ivory and stretched comfortably on their couches; eating lambs and calves; drinking wine from bowls; and anointing themselves with the best oils all the while languishing and listening to harp music. 

Then in our Gospel reading we hear of the poor man, Lazarus, lying at the door of the rich man. Lazarus is covered with sores and would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table.  Dogs come and lick his sores.

Most of us cannot relate to these categories of wealth or poverty because we are neither that rich or that poor.  But there are exceptions especially with many of us facing very hard times and great financial difficulties. 

Still, most of us are well-off enough to realize we can do more for those in need.  Instead of dreaming or singing about being rich, it’s far more important for us to focus on recognizing those who need help and then sharing what we have.

The Gospel passage about Lazarus drives this point home.  It could be entitled:  "The Punishment of the Man Who Never Noticed."  Lazarus was at his door, and the rich man didn't notice.  According to Luke, when the rich man died, he went to the netherworld where he was suffering torment in flames. Father Abraham said to him: “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.” 

Now that’s a rather graphic message for us to consider.  It raises the question:  “Who are at our doors, yet we don't notice them?”  Divorced moms with kids who are living below the poverty level but are too proud to ask for help?  Families where the breadwinner is sick or missing?  The poor in third world countries who are out of sight and out of mind?  Elderly who barely exist and living alone with no assistance.  Children who go to school very hungry. 

Now, there’s another kind of hunger. It’s the hunger that if truly satisfied, does make us rich.  It’s the hunger to love and be loved – to give and to receive love.  To put it another way: to be rich is not what is in our bank accounts but what we have in our hearts.  And that reminds us of a story.

There was a very poor man who lived in a small town with his wife.  One day, his wife who had very long and beautiful hair asked him to buy her a comb.  She had none.  Her husband said no and he was so sorry.  He explained he didn’t even have enough money to fix his watch strap he had just broken.

The man went to work and passed by a watch shop, sold his damaged watch at a low price and went to buy a comb for his wife.  He came home in the evening with the comb in his hand ready to give to his wife.  He was surprised when he saw his wife with very short hair.  She had cut her hair and then she had sold it. She held a new watch strap in her hand.  Tears flowed from both their eyes, not for the futility of their actions, but for their love for each other. 

That man and his wife were both very rich simply because of love.

We began with me mentioning the song “If I Were a Rich Man” with its opening line: "Dear God, you made many, many poor people.”  Indeed, God did.  And we at Christ the King respond through St. Vincent DePaul Society that helps the poor and needy who we find at our door. Helping those at our doors is the Noah Shelter, St. Clare’s House, and Hospice to name just a few.

We all contribute time and money to those efforts and other charitable works simply by continuing to open the doors to our hearts to see and then help all those many Lazarus's on our doorsteps.

Deacon David Pierce