Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Rich Man and Lazarus (Instructional Minutes edition)



Introduction

In our World Literature class, we are now discussing The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. It seems fortunate that the Gospel reading last September 29, is on the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). I know that you have a lot of questions about what the Bible says about death, Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. I will try to answer these questions here, plus more, like if the spirits of the dead still return to the world of the living.

While PCU is a school owned by two Protestant churches—The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the United Church of Christ and the Philippines (UCCP)—most of you students are Roman Catholics. Of course, Catholics and Protestants have different beliefs about the afterlife. For example, Roman Catholics believe in Limbo (the First Circle of Hell in Inferno) and Purgatory. Meanwhile, a lot of Protestants believe that when a person dies, his/her soul goes directly into Heaven or Hell.

I will try to present what (I think) the Bible says on life after death according to Luke 16:19-31. But first I would like to appeal for a mutual respect for our beliefs. However in order to do that, what do Catholics really believe about Limbo, and Purgatory? What do Protestants believe about Heaven and Hell?

This sermon is divided into three parts: I. A picture of life (Luke 16:19-31); II. A picture of death (Luke 16:22); and III. A picture of life after death (Luke 16:23-31).

I. A picture of life (Luke 16:19-21)

There are two kinds of people in life. There are those who live in luxury like the rich man and there are those who live in poverty, like the beggar Lazarus. The rich man had: 1) a house, 2) fine clothes to wear; and 3) plenty of food. Meanwhile, the beggar had: 1) no place to live: he was left lying at the gate; 2) no food: he wanted to eat the leftovers falling from the table of the rich man; and 3) he was filled with open sores (skin ulcers), and he did not even have bandages to cover these (that is why the dogs are left to lick his sores).

But it should be quickly pointed out that there is nothing evil in being rich and there is nothing virtuous in being poor per se. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote in his sermon “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Sermon 112)

And it is no more sinful to be rich than to be poor. But it is dangerous beyond expression. Therefore, I remind all of you that are of this number, that have the conveniences of life, and something over that ye walk upon slippery ground. Ye continually tread on snares and deaths. Ye are every moment on the verge of hell! “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for you to enter in the kingdom of heaven.”

II. A picture of death (Luke 16:22)

The great equalizer been the rich and the poor and the wicked and the virtuous is death. Mark Twain is famously said that no one can escape death and taxes. But while there are many who have managed to cheat with their taxes, no one can ever escape death.

The beggar died “and was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom”. The text did not say he was buried: He might have been eaten by the dogs. (In the Bible, one of the worst ways to die is to be eaten by dogs, like Queen Jezebel, cf. I Kings 21:23-24; II Kings 9:30-37).

The rich man also died, and the Bible said he was buried. No doubt he was buried in a mausoleum, a rich man’s tomb. But it does not tell us what carried his soul to the afterlife. (Carried off by demons, perhaps?)

III. A picture of life after death (Luke 16:23-31)

A. Where do our spirits go after we die? The Bible says that when Lazarus died, the angels took him to “Abraham’s bosom” (or, to Abraham’s side). This is one of the ways that the Jews call Paradise. Paradise is NOT the same as Heaven. According to John Wesley,

It is, indeed, very generally supposed, that the souls of good men, as soon as they are discharged from the body, go directly to heaven; but this opinion has not the least foundation in the oracles of God: On the contrary, our Lord says to Mary, after the resurrection, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” in heaven. But he had been in paradise, according to his promise to the penitent thief: “This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Hence, it is plain, that paradise is not heaven. It is indeed (if we may be allowed the expression) the antechamber of heaven, where the souls of the righteous remain till, after the general judgment, they are received into glory. (Sermon 112)

In other words, Paradise is the “ante-room” of Heaven where the spirits of the righteous await Judgment Day.

Meanwhile, the rich man went to Hell, which is translated from the Greek word Hades. You can remember that in Greek mythology, Hades is the god of the underworld and at the same time, the name of his kingdom. Hades is NOT Purgatory and it is NOT the same as Hell.

Purgatory is a place where the righteous are “purged” from their sins before they can enter into Heaven. You may recall in The Divine Comedy, the souls of those who were able to repent before they died are taken by the angels to Purgatorio. No one is directly taken up to Paradise! Only after the souls pass through the seven Terraces of Mount Purgatory will they be able to enter Paradiso.

Hades is also not the same as Hell. It’s also the “ante-room” of Hell, but not like Acheron in Inferno. Acheron is the place of the Uncommitted. Hades in the Bible is where the spirits of the unrighteous await Judgment Day until they are finally thrown into the Lake of Fire.

B. Are we conscious after we die? Some people believe that our souls will “sleep” in the dust until Judgment Day comes. But in the Bible, Father Abraham says that now Lazarus is being comforted. Meanwhile the rich man is now being tormented.

And the rich man is NOT unconscious. 1) He can see Abraham and Lazarus “afar off”. 2) he can feel the torment of the flames, so much that he wanted Abraham to send Lazarus “to dip the tip of his finger in water” and cool his tongue because he is being tormented in flame. And 3) he can even remember that he has five brothers who are still alive. (A lot of people have asked me if it’s true that we forget who we are and who our loved ones are after we die. My answer is NO.)

So are we conscious after we die? The answer is yes.

C. Can we change our destiny after we die?

1. Some people believe that there is still a chance for people to go to Paradise after death. But Abraham told the rich man that his request is impossible because “there is a great gulf” between them so that no one from either side can cross over to another (v. 26).

Roman Catholics believe that a person’s time in Purgatory can be shortened by offering prayers and Masses, and by buying Mass cards for the dead. (These are called “pardons” which are sold by “pardoners”, like the Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales). But I believe that the time to change our destiny is not after we die, but before we die, because the Bible says,

For he said, I have heard you in an acceptable time, and in a day of salvation have I succored thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2).

2. Some people also believe that it is possible for spirits to return from the dead. In the Aeneid, we read that the souls of those who were not buried properly are doomed to wander in Acheron because Charon would refuse to take them into the Underworld. The rich man now pleads to Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers who are still living. He knows that his brothers are just like him and that they are also headed for the place of torment. But once more, Abraham denies his request. The living, he says, already have the Bible (called the books of “Moses and the prophets” here) with them. If they do not listen to the Word of God, neither they will listen even to someone who comes back from the dead (vv. 29-31).

Conclusion

In life, there are those of us who live with the good things in life; while there are those of us who live with the evil things in life. Our condition is life is only temporary, because one day death shall come to each and every one of us. In death, some of us who lived in with the good things in life will tormented, and some of those who lived with the evil things in life will be comforted. Once we die, our destiny is fixed. No amount of prayer can save us once we are put in torment. The time to change our final destination is not after we die but now, while we are still living.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, may not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

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