Fresco of Lazarus & The Rich Man – Rila Monastery -Image Courtesy: Kalina Boulter
The Rich Man and Lazarus
There was a rich man who 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 (Hell) where hew 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.”
Abraham said (in reply), ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received 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 (the Rich man in Hell) said, ‘Then father (Abraham) I beg you to send him to my father’s house–for I have five brothers, the 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 (The Rich man in Hell) said, ‘No father Abraham but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
Abraham 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.’ Luke 16:19-31
Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB
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