you thanked Him for this? You ought to make a devout thanksgiving each time you have been to confession. Do not repay the love of your God with fresh ingratitude.
Chapter XLVI.
THE PARABLE OF DIVES AND LAZARUS.
[Luke 16, 19 — 31.]
JESUS, wishing to show the evil effects of riches, when misused, and the advantage of poverty, when borne with patience, said:
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen[1], and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at the rich man’s gate, full of sores. He desired to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, but no one did give him. Moreover the dogs came[2] and licked his sores.
“Now it came to pass that the beggar died[3], and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom [4]. But the rich man also died[5], and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said: ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.’ [6] Abraham said to him: ‘Son, remember that thou didst
- ↑ Fine linen. His upper garments were made of wool, dyed with a costly purple dye, and his under garments were made of fine Egyptian linen.
- ↑ The dogs came . This may mean that the dogs had more pity than the rich man, and that Lazarus had no other friends but the dogs; or it may also mean that he was too helpless to drive away the dogs (unclean animals) that came to lick his wounds.
- ↑ Died. Without regret, for he welcomed death as a deliverer, and had for a long while prepared himself for it.
- ↑ Abraham's bosom. To Limbo, and very near to Abraham.
- ↑ The rich man also died. An unexpected and unwelcome death, for to die was horrible and difficult to him, because he had to leave behind him everything to which his heart clung.
- ↑ In this flame . This is a significant and descriptive expression. As a body which is buried in the earth is surrounded everywhere by earth, so the rich man , when buried in hell , was surrounded everywhere by fire: above, below, to right and to left of him, he was surrounded by flames. On earth there had been a splendid funeral service for him, and half the town had attended it, being anxious to pay him their last tokens of respect — and all the while his soul was in hell!
