The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man and Lazarus

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, ‘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. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours. He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” Luke 16:19-31 New American Bible translation

As I was preparing for mass today, I logged onto Bishop Barron’s website Word on Fire. It’s a website I’ve recommended in the past (for Advent and Lenten reflections). I can’t remember if I’ve ever recommended his weekly homilies (I probably have). He gives such great homilies and challenges us to think beyond the usual. Listen here to his thoughts on the Gospel I’ve shared above. A few things he said gave me pause. The first was the fact that when we are separated from others we are separated from God and vice versa. The second is that God is the creator of all things and so He is owner of all things and the last was we too, like the rich man, have Moses and the prophets.