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Posted on 09/24/2022 11:40:12 PM PDT by Cronos
This Sunday’s Gospel about the rich man and Lazarus contains some important teachings on judgment and Hell. We live in times in which many consider the teachings on Hell to be untenable. They struggle to understand how a God described as loving, merciful, and forgiving could assign certain souls to Hell forever. Despite the fact that the Doctrine of Hell is taught extensively in Scripture as well as by Jesus Himself, it does not comport well with many modern notions and so many people think that it has to go.
The parable addresses some of the modern concerns about Hell. Prior to looking at the reading, it is important to understand why Hell has to exist. I have written on that topic extensively here. What follows is a brief summary of that lengthier article.
Hell must exist for one essential reason: respect. God has made us free and respects our freedom to choose His Kingdom or not. The Kingdom of God is not a mere abstraction. It has some very specific values, and these are realized and experienced perfectly in Heaven.
The values of the Kingdom of God include love, kindness, forgiveness, justice to the poor, generosity, humility, mercy, chastity, love of Scripture, love of the truth, worship of God, and the centrality of God.
Unfortunately, there are many people who do not want anything to do with those values, and God will not force them to. Everyone may want to go to Heaven, but Heaven is not merely what we want it to be; it is what it is, as God has set it forth. Heaven is the Kingdom of God and its values in all their fullness.
There are some (many, according to Jesus) who live in a way that consistently demonstrates their lack of interest in Heaven. They do this by showing that they are not interested in one or many of the Kingdom’s values. Hell “has to be” because God respects people’s freedom to choose to live in this way. Because such people demonstrate that they do not want Heaven, God respects their freedom to choose “other arrangements.”
In a way, this is what Jesus says in John’s Gospel, when He states that judgment is about what we prefer: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil (John 3:19). In the end, you get what you want: light or darkness. Sadly, many prefer the darkness. The day of judgment discloses our final preference; God respects that even if it is not what He would want for us
This leads us to the Gospel, which we will look at in three stages.
I. The Ruin of the Rich Man – As the Gospel opens, we see a rich man (some call him Dives, which simply means “rich”). There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.
It is clear that he lives very well and has the ability to help the poor man, Lazarus, who is outside his gate. But he does not do so.
The rich man’s sin is not so much one of hate as of indifference. He is living in open rejection of one of the Kingdom’s most important values: love of the poor. His insensitivity is literally a “damnable sin”; it lands him in Hell. His ruin is his insensitivity to the poor.
The care of the poor may be a complicated matter, and there may be different ways of approaching it, but we can we never consider ourselves exempt if it is within our means to help. We cannot avoid judgment for greed and insensitivity. As God said in last week’s reading regarding those who are insensitive to the poor, The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done (Amos 8:7). God may well “forget” many of our sins (cf Is 43:23; Heb 8:12), but apparently disregarding the needs of the poor isn’t one of them.
This rich man has repeatedly rejected the Kingdom by his greed and insensitivity. He lands in Hell because he doesn’t want Heaven, where the poor are exalted (cf Luke 1:52).
Abraham explains the great reversal to him: My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
II. The Rigidity of the Rich Man – You might expect the rich man to have a change of heart and repent, but he does not. Looking up into Heaven, he sees Lazarus next to Abraham, but rather than finally recognizing Lazarus’ dignity and seeking his forgiveness, he tells Abraham to send Lazarus to Hell with a pail of water to refresh him. The rich man still sees Lazarus as beneath him (even though he has to look up to see him); he sees Lazarus as an errand boy.
Notice that the rich man does not ask to be admitted to Heaven! Although he is unhappy with where he is, he still does not seem to desire Heaven and the Kingdom of God with all its values. He has not really changed. He regrets his current torment but does not see Heaven as a solution. Neither does he want to appreciate Lazarus’ exalted state. The rich man wants to draw Lazarus back to the lower place he once occupied.
This helps to explain why Hell is eternal. It would seem that there is a mystery of the human person that we must come to accept: we reach a point in life when our character is forever fixed, when we can no longer change. When exactly this occurs is not clear; perhaps it is at the moment of death itself.
The Fathers of the Church often thought of the human person as clay on a potter’s wheel. As long as it is on the wheel and moist it can be molded, but when the clay is taken off the wheel and placed in the fiery kiln (fire is judgment day (cf 1 Cor 3:15)), its shape is forever fixed.
The rich man manifests this fixed quality. He is unhappy with his torments, even wanting to warn his brothers, but apparently he does not intend to change or somehow he is unable to change.
This is the basis for the teaching that Hell is eternal: once having encountered our fiery judgment, we will no longer be able to change. Our decision against the Kingdom of God and its values (a decision that God, in sadness, respects) will be forever fixed.
III. The Reproof for the Rest of Us – The rich man, though he cannot or will not change, would like to warn his brothers. He thinks that perhaps if Lazarus would rise from the dead and warn them, they would repent!
We are the rich man’s brethren, and we are hereby warned. The rich man wanted exotic measures, but Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.” “Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” Then Abraham said, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”
This reply is dripping with irony, given Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
We should not need miraculous signs to bring us conversion. The phrase “they have Moses and the prophets” is a Jewish way of saying that they have Scripture.
The Scriptures are clear to lay out the way before us. They give us the road map to Heaven and we only need to follow it. We ought not to need an angel or a ghost or some extraordinary sign. The Scriptures and the teachings of the Church should be sufficient.
Their message is clear enough: daily prayer, daily Scripture, weekly Eucharist, frequent confession, and repentance all lead to a change of heart wherein we begin to love the Kingdom of God and its values. We become more merciful, kind, generous, loving toward the poor and needy, patient, chaste, devout, and self-controlled.
Hell exists! It has to exist because we have a free choice to make, and God will respect that choice even if he does not prefer it.
Each of us is free to choose the Kingdom of God—or not. This Gospel makes it clear that our ongoing choices lead to a final, permanent choice, at which time our decision will be forever fixed.
The modern world needs to sober up. There is a Hell and its existence is both reasonable and in conformity with a God who both loves us and respects our freedom.
If you have any non-biblical notions in this regard, consider yourself reproved. Popular or not, Hell is taught, as is the sobering notion that many prefer its darkness to the light of God’s Kingdom.
The care of the poor is very important to God. Look through your closet this week and give away what you can. Look at your financial situation and see if it is pleasing to God. The rich man was not cruel, just insensitive and unaware. How will you and I respond to a Gospel like this?
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Ir is this sort of whining that makes many people see much of organized Christianity as the enemy of hard working normanl people.
There are gobs of resources devoted to helping the poor, many of whom are in their predicament because of bad choices. As my dad used to say, “it’s supposed to be a safety net, not a hammock.”
The poor ignoring me trying to educate them, which they do as they continue to vote for democrats, is also a grave sin.
and justice and rights denied,
do not be surprised at such things;
for one official is eyed by higher one,
and over them both are others still higher.
The increase from the land is taken by all,
The king himself profits from the field.
Eccl 5:8-9
Wow listen to the selfish excuses in this thread why the poor should not be helped. Hearts just like the rich man.
What do have you have that you have not received from God?
As you did not do it unto the least of these you did not do it unto me, and Jesus then casts these goats into hell. These scriptures are the judgement of the church...the separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep help the poor. Matt 25
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise”. Proverbs 6:6
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For also when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.
Show me the truly poor, and those I will help.
Show me welfare deadbeats who get free cell phones, free rent, free “help” with heating costs, free medical care, free food, etc. and I’ll show you someone who is NOT poor.
Show me “homeless” who get free food, free clothing, free housing offered to them, free drugs, and refuse to avail themselves of the many services available to come clean and put their lives together, and I’ll show you someone who is not poor but has chosen a lifestyle.
The help is there for anyone who wants it and if the government won’t, I know plenty of churches which will.
Nobody is against helping the truly poor. Those mooching off the system in the US do not qualify.
But also: we have the crystal-clear parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
If we refuse to help the suffering Christ - for instance in the hungry, the naked, the sick or imprisoned - and these days: the unborn - then we are on the way to eternal damnation.
Government compels our hard-earned money from us and gives clothes, food and shelter to the indolent and undeserving. We have to push back on that injustice, while we help those who really are suffering.
I've been involved in Eagle Scout projects that partner with homeless support organizations. If you EVER want to see people who can separate the wheat front the chaff, speak to these folks. Indeed, they kick out people from their facilities who break the rules (usually drugs or theft). Care for the poor isn't a mandate for self-immolation.
I'm not a theologian, but it is the hardened heart regarding the poor to which these parables speak. Of COURSE there are a lot of poor people there due to their own decisions. Of COURSE there are lots of organizations that focus on helping the poor. But when we meet God, will we say "yeah, there are gobs of resources and the government took over that job and they did it to themselves so I blew them off"? OR, will we take the mandate seriously, as seriously as we take paying our bills, and find a way to care for the poor in our own special way?
If you give a stray dog a meal and some kindness the dog will be forever your faithful companion, if you do the same to a man he will use the interaction as a opportunity to get you give him more or he will rob you at the first opportunity.
Charity is for those of our blood. Family is (to a certain extent family) all the others are just strangers. Oh, yes, if you are a middle class straight white man see how much charity will ever be offered to you no matter what your circumstance is.
Absolutely nailed it, Metmom.
I would add that in the NT, even widows had to qualify as “truly in need”, while the rest were to be helped by family.
Of course I'll feed my family first. And discernment will drive my personal charity away from Antifa-like organizations since their morality isn't synched with God. But I refuse to let the left's racism define charity for me. Or define charity as God mandates it...or let the left define when life begins.
God mandate’s it...vere you dere Charlie?
Satan loves this topic because it provides an endless font of guilt for those who are ignorant of (or refuse) the FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. No amount of helping can save a man and no amount of ignoring can damn him.
Meanwhile OF COURSE we should help the poor…whoever they are AS DEFINED BY GOD (not politicians or priests) and wherever they are. We probably already do this in the natural course of life. We see a need and we help when possible. Only the Lord needs to see it, and He is the rewarder. He clearly frowns on doing it as a show or to curry favor with man.
Eh, I’ll throw them some coin and call it good.
Note that for the Jew sheol (the Hades or Hell as we call it) existed on two levels divided by a deep cleavage. Note that Father Abraham and Lazarus are located on one side, and the sinner on the other. In contrast, for Gentiles, Jesus and the death on the Cross, burial, resurrection and ascension offers a different outcome, the Paradise of believers.
Exactly. Paul tells us how we are to give, and how tho0se,unwilling to work are to be treated. (Of course those who can’t work are another issue)
Jesus asked the man at .the pool “Do You WANT to be well?”
The man Immediately began making excuses why he couldn’t get well. But in the end, he obeyed christ, and that is when Jesus cured him and helped him.
Had the man said “No! Because that would mean I lose my piddly welfare check every month and would have to go to work if you healed me”, or “No! Because that would mean i would have to give up getting stoned every night, and i dont want to do what it takes to get clean” I seriously doubt christ would have healed him because the man would not have wanted to actually be healed, and instead would just want to feel better, (or be able to walk) while remaining on the dole and not having
Like you said, there are plenty of services available, paid for by taxes of those who work, that are available for,the sick and poor, and taxes are a form of helping those that can not help themselves, but unfortunately have gone to far too many people who can help th3mselves but choose not to)
“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”
That verse is for those who CAN help themselves, but whk prefer to not do so and want to live off the welfare and generosity of those who do work. Those are the people that if Jesus would ask “Do You wish to be well?” Would answer “Nope! Life is too easy and I’m not required to do anyht8ng but collect a welfare check once a month, healing would mean i would have to work, so the answer is no”
Jesus offers the ultimate help to everyone... Salvation! But THEY MUST want it. He can’t help those that wont help themselves. Folks,on the steet have made it for decades, getting enough to sustain themselves obviously, (which just proves that most are being sustained by society via taxes and welfare programs) but if asked if th3y truly want help, many will answer “nope, too much work”
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