Today's Gospel has Jesus tell the parable of the unnamed rich man and the poor man named Lazarus who use to lie at the rich man's door, denied even the scraps from the rich man's table as dogs came to lick his sores. Both men die, and the rich man, while suffering torment, sees Lazarus far away speaking with Abraham. The rich man says, "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."
"Send Lazarus ..."
The rich man, whose name we did not know, knew Lazarus' name. Lazarus was not some random beggar; he was known by the rich man. I wonder if the Pharisees, to whom Jesus is telling this parable, had just brushed away a beggar whose name they knew.
I find it interesting that we do not hear from Lazarus in this parable. In my mind's eye (as this is not in the Bible), I see Lazarus readying himself to meet the rich man's request as Abraham stops him by lays his hand on Lazarus' shoulder. For it is Abraham who answers the rich man, noting the change in his and Lazarus' fortunes and then explaining why Lazarus cannot help him. My mental image assumes that Lazarus moved to help because it explains to me why he would be in heaven. Otherwise, the only reason given is that he was poor, and (although the parable is more about the fate of the rich man) I believe that part of Jesus' message is that there are those whom we reflexively despise who are actually true and good.
"Send Lazarus ..."
The rich man, whose name we did not know, knew Lazarus' name. Lazarus was not some random beggar; he was known by the rich man. I wonder if the Pharisees, to whom Jesus is telling this parable, had just brushed away a beggar whose name they knew.
I find it interesting that we do not hear from Lazarus in this parable. In my mind's eye (as this is not in the Bible), I see Lazarus readying himself to meet the rich man's request as Abraham stops him by lays his hand on Lazarus' shoulder. For it is Abraham who answers the rich man, noting the change in his and Lazarus' fortunes and then explaining why Lazarus cannot help him. My mental image assumes that Lazarus moved to help because it explains to me why he would be in heaven. Otherwise, the only reason given is that he was poor, and (although the parable is more about the fate of the rich man) I believe that part of Jesus' message is that there are those whom we reflexively despise who are actually true and good.
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