My Dear People,

Today Jesus speaks of the parable of the rich man. This is the parable to which all Christians should pay close attention. This parable can make a difference in one’s soul and where the individual will spend eternity.

To better impress in all hearts just how opposed earthly wealth and pleasures are to what is valued in the sight of God and to describe more effectively how the riches must be used, Jesus tells a most beautiful parable, which is a true revelation of the mystery of the afterlife in reference to the life we live on earth.

There was an Egyptian man so rich that he dressed like a king in purple and fine linen  called byssus. He was a bon vivant, and every day he gave splendid banquets. At the door of his sumptuous palace there was a poor, wounded man named Lazarus (an abbreviation for Eleazar). He was sick, exhausted, starving, but he could smell the rich man’s food and hoped to get at least some of the leftovers. But no one gave him anything. Dogs came to lick his wounds, but Lazarus did not even have the strength to shoo them away.

So, from an earthly standpoint we have a splendid life on one hand and a most sorrowful one on the other. But, for God, things are completely different. The poor man, in fact, died and was brought by angels to the bosom of Abraham, that is, to Limbo, where the righteous, in the company of Abraham waited for the Redeemer to open the doors of Heaven. It was a place of happiness and natural peace, far superior to any condition of earthly happiness. Shortly afterwards, the rich man also died, and he was buried in hell. His dissolute life had produced its fruits of death, and in the fire of hell he suffered horrible torments. 

From that place of torment, God allowed him to see Abraham and Lazarus in His bosom, far off, together, and in happiness. What a contrast! Hoping to have at least some relief from the pain he was suffering, he turned to Abraham, (the head of the people to which he belonged),  begging him to send Lazarus to him so he could dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, as he was being scorched by the flames. Abraham answered with peace and the love of God that the situation had changed irrevocably. In eternity, the state is immutable, and it was impossible for Lazarus to do anything to change it.

The tormented rich man, seeing that he could not change his situation, worried about his five brothers and begged Abraham to send Lazarus to alert them to the danger they faced. Abraham did not say that Lazarus could not go to them but answered that they already had Moses and the Prophets, and that they could save themselves with the light of the Prophets’ words. The unfortunate man insisted that if they had an appropriate warning from a dead man, they would repent. It seemed to him that the appearance of a happy soul like Lazarus warning them of their own perdition would be enough to convert them. However, Abraham said flatly that if they did not believe Moses and the Prophets they would not believe even the words of a deceased man returning from the dead. 

This parable should be a warning to all Christians. The reason the rich man did not go to Heaven wasn’t necessarily because he feasted and dressed splendidly but that he ignored the needs of Lazarus. For this reason, he was destined for a place of torment. 

Jesus’ words are very clear! We should not ignore our neighbor when he is in need. 

[Source: I Quattro Evangeli  (the Four Gospels) by Don Dolindo Ruotolo]

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente