7/7/22
And Jesus told them a parable, saying:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked this man’s sores.
And the time finally came when the beggar died. And the angels came, and they carried him to Abraham’s side.
Then the rich man also died, and was buried.
In Hades, where he was torment, the rich man looked up. He could see Abraham, far away… with Lazarus by his side.
And so, the rich man cried out to him:
‘Father Abraham!’ the rich man called, ‘Please, Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip even just the tip of his finger into water so that he might cool my tongue ~ for I am in such incredible agony in this fire!’
And Abraham replied to him:
‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now, he is comforted here – and you are in agony. But even with all that aside, now there’s this: between Us and you, a great chasm has been set in place now, so that even those who want to go from here to you…cannot any longer. Nor can anyone from there crossover to us any longer, either.’
And the rich man answered,
‘O Father! If this be, send Lazarus to my living family! Please! I am begging you! I have five living brothers! Please! Let Lazarus at least warn them! That way, they won’t also come to this place of torment!’
And Abraham replied:
‘They have Moses. And, they have the Prophets as well. Let your family them listen to them.’
‘Yes but Father Abraham!’ the rich man interjected, ‘if someone from the dead would go to them – surely they would repent!’
And Abraham replied: ‘If they will not listen to Moses, and if they will not listen to the Prophets, then they will not be convinced… even if someone were to actually rise from the dead and tell them.’
Let him who has ears that hear: hear.
~ The Gospel of Luke, 16:19-31
