The One Raised and The One Buried
 
Fr Agustine Mundackatt VC
 
People who enjoy living in the midst of affluence; another section who are engulfed in heaviness of heart, stunned at the series of tribulations, pain and sorrow that befall them. And there is Jesus watching the two sides of human life-the easy and comfortable on the one hand, and the stark, harsh realities on the other, and offering us an integral view of his consolation in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The Son of God is proclaiming that God's justice is incomparable and inscrutable by tearing aside the shallow assumptions of the common man. In contemporary life there are the "poor rich" who live in the magic spell of worldly prosperity doing no harm to anyone; at the same time we see the "rich poor"who accept every kind of tribulation and grief and live in serenity without grumbling or rebelling.

The insight that this parable gives us is a warning to those who live in the highest strata of society, intoxicated with its fleeting pleasures. It also shows us the deep consolation of an integral salvation for those whose lives are shattered like broken glass. In St Luke's Gospel chapter 16, verses 19 to 31, we have the description of the rich man's luxurious life while the poor Lazarus' sore-covered body is "licked by the dogs." The word of God says, "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" (Lk 16:22-23). The man who left this world with a decayed body was borne by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The blood and puss oozing from his physical body were not obstacles for the gates of heaven to open. When they warmly received the soul separated from a diseased body, the worldly man's eyes were dazzled. Earthly doors would open only to worldly splendour. What the beautiful gates of heaven do not take into account is precisely this earthy magnificence. The Supreme Judge of heaven measures the depth of the human heart . Worldly grandeur comes to an end with the burial. Ordinarily to our mortal eyes, a ceremonial burial betokens the dead man's good fortune . We glorify such men as having been blessed. O man! You who are being borne to the grave accompanied by the final tributes of thousands, your life comes to an end with your burial. Even if an emerald cross is erected over the marble slab, your life buried in the grave will not be raised to glory. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, it is only said that the "poor" rich man was buried and was plunged into the eternal pains of hell, while heavenly consolations awaited Lazarus.

A judgment that looks extremely partisan to the ordinary mind! The rich man was one who did not drive the poor Lazarus away from his door, allowed him to eat of the crumbs that fell off his table. He did not prevent his dog from licking the wounds of the penury-stricken beggar. We might wonder why the Lord does not take into consideration even this sense of justice. Many of us may even be below the standards adopted by the rich man. But what God expected from the rich man was not this passive compassion, charity that did not hurt. The wealthy man should have regarded Lazarus not as a beggar to be fed on the remnants that fell off his table. When he failed to fulfill God's expectations, he was cast into eternal fire.

When he ignored Lazarus as a beggar living on the waste thrown into the garbage bin , God the Most High placed Lazarus on Abraham's bosom, embraced him and coddled him as a dear son. It was then that Abraham said,"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"

The God who sides with the poor, included Lazar in the number of the elect and made him an heir to his kingdom. That was why Abraham included Lazar when he said "We". Lazar has been made a member of the community of the patriarchs, saints and angels. Father Abraham declares that Lazarus has been accorded the status and freedom of a child of God. The difference between heaven and hell, between life and death is confirmed.That is why we mention in the Creed- "the communion of saints." The ones who are ugly and untouchable in this world become members of that august assembly. This is unthinkable for man. But God's justice is inscrutable and inexpressible. A justice that does not take into account external appearances or disabilities. Here we see the desirable results of endurance of suffering and patient waiting on God for mercy.

O foolish man! When you are lying in blissful slumber with a paralysed mind and the bell tolls for you to leave this world, raise your thoughts to heaven. Do not be averse to conversion. Do not put it off for tomorrow. "Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2).

Father Abraham has confirmed that our life is not one which has to be buried in a six-foot pit only to become food for worms, through the use of the word 'we'. It is heavenly glory we are made for. Do we need any more witnesses? Why doubt any longer?

Plunging the rich man into hell does not mean that God is against wealth and wealthy people. Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus were rich. Jesus loved them. Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and Zacchaeus were also rich and dear to Jesus. Today, too, several rich people use their wealth to serve God and their fellowmen and thus prepare to go to Heaven, like Lazarus.