In the parable of today’s Gospel, we are presented with two very different lives:

  • A rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in luxury. He was not just rich; he was extravagantly rich, indifferent, self-absorbed. His life revolved around comfort and pleasure.
  • At his very gate lay Lazarus, a poor man, covered with sores, longing to eat the scraps that fell from the table. The dogs showed him more pity than humans.

What is striking is that the rich man did not harm Lazarus; he simply ignored him. He did not notice him, or rather, he chose not to notice him. Lazarus was invisible to him.

Then comes the reversal. Lazarus dies and is carried by the angels into the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also dies, and suffers torment. So the one who was invisible becomes central, and the one who seemed powerful becomes helpless.

This story is not meant to condemn wealth or glorify poverty; it is about the choices we make – how we live, whom we see, and whom we ignore. It is about the danger of indifference, and the responsibility we carry for one another. 

The invisible at the gate

The Gospel challenges us with a hard truth: sometimes the greatest sin is not what we do, but what we fail to do. The story shows that the rich man never struck Lazarus, never insulted him, never shouted at him. His sin was indifference. His heart was closed. His world was too small – he only cared for himself.

This happens in our world. There are Lazaruses at the gates of our lives:

  • The poor and the homeless, whom society tries not to see.
  • Migrants who risk their lives in search of dignity.
  • The elderly who live alone, forgotten.
  • The young who feel abandoned and without hope.

There might be members of our own families who are silently crying for attention.

Opening our eyes and hearts

Today we are celebrating with you, dear brothers and sisters, who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. The same Spirit who descended on the apostles in the Upper Room descends on you today. The Gospel invites us to see what this sacrament really means.  Confirmation is not just a beautiful ritual; it is a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given to open your eyes, strengthen your heart, and send you on a mission.

  • The rich man was blind, though Lazarus lay at his very door. The Spirit opens our eyes to notice the suffering of others.
  • The rich man’s heart was closed in on himself. The Spirit enlarges our hearts, making room for compassion and mercy.
  • The rich man’s life was comfortable but fruitless. The Spirit sends us into mission, so that our lives bear fruit in service and love.

In Confirmation, you are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. That seal is an empowerment. The Holy Spirit gives you a new vision, new courage, new love, so that you will not remain indifferent but will step out in service.

The Spirit of Fire and Courage

Remember the disciples before Pentecost. They were timid and afraid, locked behind doors. They believed in Jesus, but they lacked courage. But when the Spirit came, they received fire, boldness, and strength. They went out to proclaim the Risen Lord, to reach out to all nations. Today, you stand in the same tradition. Through Confirmation, the Spirit comes upon you to make you witnesses of Christ in today’s world.

The world does not need more indifference; it needs more people on fire with the Spirit, people who will not pass by the “Lazaruses” of our time. You are being anointed so that your lives will be marked by courage, compassion, and commitment.

Listening to the Word

The parable ends with a serious reminder: the rich man begs that Lazarus be sent to warn his brothers. Abraham replies: “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29). And when the rich man insists, Abraham says: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

We are the people who have heard the Word, who believe in the One who has risen from the dead: Jesus Christ. The question is: do we truly listen, or do we allow our lives to remain unchanged? Confirmation strengthens us precisely to listen and to obey, to let God’s Word shape our lives. The Spirit gives you the strength to live the Gospel in action, not just in words.

Becoming Witnesses of Hope

Dear candidates, today you are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is your sending forth, your personal Pentecost:

  • Where there is division, you are called to bring unity.
  • Where there is sadness, you are called to bring joy.
  • Where there is injustice, you are called to stand for truth.
  • Where there is indifference, you are called to see and to act.

Like Lazarus, many people today wait at the “gates” of our communities. You are being empowered to notice them, to welcome them, and to bear witness to God’s love for them. The Spirit makes you not spectators but disciples, not passive members but active witnesses.

The Spirit sends you out

The parable warns us against closing our hearts, but Confirmation empowers us to open them wide. The Spirit you receive today is not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (cf. 2 Tim 1:7). From this moment, live with the Spirit’s power. Do not delay love; do not postpone mercy; do not put off compassion.

So, let us pray that the Spirit you receive today will make you bold disciples. May we all live our lives so that when the Lord calls us home, we too may be carried into the joy of eternal life, like Lazarus.

✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi 
    Auxiliary Bishop of Malta