A Few Words On "The Word"

September 30, 2007
The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 16:19-21

Crumbs from Your Table

You speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

A few years ago while working at a bicycle store I encountered a man named Harold. Harold wasn't like the other customers that came into our store. He had the distinct smell and appearance of a person who lived on the streets. He would wheel his grime-covered bike to the back of the store where I worked as a mechanic and ask for a certain tool or maybe buy a tube to fix a flat tire.

Harold wasn't always the most pleasant person to be around. He spoke mostly in grunts or slurred his words so badly that he couldn't be understood. He often smelled like he had been drinking and sometimes he would fall asleep on the floor of the store. On one occasion we even had to ask him to leave the store because he was being too loud. In general Harold seemed like a pretty decent guy and it was clear that he cared about his bike which was probably his only prize possession.

I often ask myself how people end up in situations like Harold's. What was his family like growing up? Did he go to school and perhaps even get a job? Did some bad habits or bad luck force him to live on the streets? Did he lose faith along the way?

Today's gospel offers a striking picture of the contrast between the rich and the poor. Jesus tells us about Lazarus, a poor beggar who would give anything just to eat the crumbs and scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Despite seeing Lazarus's need, the rich man refuses to give him anything. Upon his death, Lazarus is taken to Abraham while the rich man ends up in the netherworld. The rich man sees Lazarus and begs for mercy but is not comforted. Eventually he simply requests that someone be sent to warn his rich brothers of the fate he has suffered. Abraham tells the rich man that if his brothers have not listened to the prophets than they will also refuse to heed supernatural signs.

The first lesson that comes to mind when hearing a story like this is that we should make sure we share some of our excess food with those in need. It's a basic lesson and a good one but today I want you to put yourself in the shoes of someone like Harold.

You find yourself living on the streets; alone, hungry and scared. You can't get a job or stay at shelters for more than a few days. You beg for food or money but people usually run the other way. You gradually become more and more bitter and angry. Eventually, because of your meager existence, you begin to believe that God doesn't exist.

The thing is, you'd like to believe in God. Maybe you could if only someone would just offer a helping hand. You don't need supernatural signs or fantastic miracles to happen before your eyes, you just need for someone to care, for someone to realize that you too are a human being.

I'm not sure if Harold believed in God, I never really built a personal relationship with him. I did find out that Harold had a brother on the other side of town who was a lawyer. It surprised me to know that Harold had a family and I hope his brother was helping him in some way.

We truly can't know all the details and circumstances of a person's life. We can't judge who they are or what they believe. All we can do is recognize a need and offer a helping hand. At the very least we're reaching out to those like Lazarus and Harold who are just trying to survive. However, we may be restoring their faith in other people and even God. You never know what a few crumbs from your table might do!

Reflection Question

In what ways can you provide hope for people like Harold who may no longer have any?

Join us in our Forum to discuss these questions!

--Bono. "Crumbs From Your Table." Lyrics. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. PolyGram International Music Publishing, 2004.