Thursday of the Second Week of Lent - February 28, 2013
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Luke 16:19 – 31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
There are few things that get me as riled up as people who live with a sense of entitlement, who believe that everyone and everything else is in their service.
In Jesus’ wisdom-story, even in death, the rich man thought others should be in his service. It is a ludicrous picture of a self-referenced, self-centered, self-interested existence . . . a ridiculous, over-the-top portrait intended, by its over-statement, to make a point.
Even in death, even in the pit of Hades, the rich man was living in delusion, was oblivious to what was true and real about other people. Even when tormented after death, he thought others should be serving his purposes.
Over-the-top stories like this exaggerate in order to make a point. They use a clownish character, who is intended to help us see ourselves more clearly, more honestly, and more truthfully. The goal of such stories is not guilt and condemnation, but clarity of sight and spiritual vision.
Does it help me see myself and the world more clearly?
Luke 16:19 – 31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
There are few things that get me as riled up as people who live with a sense of entitlement, who believe that everyone and everything else is in their service.
In Jesus’ wisdom-story, even in death, the rich man thought others should be in his service. It is a ludicrous picture of a self-referenced, self-centered, self-interested existence . . . a ridiculous, over-the-top portrait intended, by its over-statement, to make a point.
Even in death, even in the pit of Hades, the rich man was living in delusion, was oblivious to what was true and real about other people. Even when tormented after death, he thought others should be serving his purposes.
Over-the-top stories like this exaggerate in order to make a point. They use a clownish character, who is intended to help us see ourselves more clearly, more honestly, and more truthfully. The goal of such stories is not guilt and condemnation, but clarity of sight and spiritual vision.
Does it help me see myself and the world more clearly?
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