The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

那時候，耶穌向法利塞人說：「有一個富家人，身穿紫紅袍及細麻紗衣，天天奢華地宴樂。另有一個乞丐，名叫拉匝祿，滿身瘡痍，躺臥在他的大門前。他指望著富家人桌上掉下的碎屑充饑，但只有狗來舐他的瘡痍。那乞丐死了，天使把他送到亞巴郎的懷抱裡。那個富家人也死了，被人埋葬了。他在陰間，痛苦中舉目一望，遠遠看見亞巴郎及他懷抱中的拉匝祿，便喊叫說：父親亞巴郎！可憐我吧！請打發拉匝祿用他的指頭尖，蘸點水來涼潤我的舌頭，因為我在這火燄中極其慘苦。亞巴郎說：孩子，你應記得你活著的時候，已享盡了你的福，而拉匝祿同樣也受盡了苦。現在，他在這裏受安慰，而你應受苦了。除此之外，在我們與你們之間，隔著一個巨大的深淵，致使人即使願意，從這邊到你們那邊去也不能，從那邊到我們這邊來也不能。那人說：父親！那麼就請你打發拉匝祿到我父家去，因為我有五個弟兄，叫他警告他們，免得他們也來到這個痛苦的地方。亞巴郎說：他們自有梅瑟及先知，聽從他們好了。他說：『不，父親亞巴郎！倘若有人從死者中到了他們那裏，他們必會悔改。亞巴郎給他說：如果他們不聽從梅瑟及先知，縱使有人從死者中復活了，他們也必不信服。』」
路加福音 16:19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus
© Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.

如好鏡子會反映對面的影像，天主正義的審判也將會反映我們的作為。在耶穌的比喻中，富翁沒有憐憫躺臥在他大門前的乞丐，所以當他渴求憐憫時，也沒有得到應允。在比喻中，這富翁揀選了世上的幸福，天天奢華地宴樂，乞丐拉匝祿卻受盡了苦；於是拉匝祿死後得到安慰，富翁死後卻要受苦。

可能許多人會問，有沒有人能在這一世和永生中都能脫免苦難？相信即使不是不可能，也是很難的事，因為從亞當犯了罪開始，人的一切勞動、貧困、悲傷和疾病等等的苦，都是罪的刑罰。即使人想脫離罪惡，每天要克服自己的慾望、憤怒、虛榮、驕傲等等，在靈性和肉體上都是痛苦的鬥爭，但如不背起自己的十字架，又怎能跟隨耶穌並且得救？

（本文以英文為準）

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘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.' Abraham replied, ‘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. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, ‘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.$0"2$
Luke 16:19-31

As the best mirrors represents an image of the face opposite to it, so also is the just judgment of God adapted to our dispositions. Where the rich man because he did not pity the poor as Lazarus lay at his gate, is not heard when he needs mercy for himself. All this then because the rich man chose the happiness of the world, and loved no other life but that in which he proudly boasted; but Abraham said Lazarus received what was bad, because he knew that the perishableness of this life, its labors, sorrows, and sickness, are the penalty of sin, for we all die in Adam who by sin was made liable to death.

But many will ask, Is there no one who shall enjoy release, both here and there? This is indeed a hard thing if not impossible. For without the pressure of poverty, ambition urges; if not provoked by sickness, anger inflames; if not assaulted by temptations, corrupt thoughts often overwhelm. It is a bitter struggle to bridle anger, to check unlawful desires, to subdue the swellings of vain-glory, to quell pride or haughtiness, to lead an austere life. He that does not take up their cross and do these things cannot be saved.

參考 References:

Catena Aurea (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Homilies on the Beatitudes (St. Gregory of Nyssa)
Questions on the Gospels (St.Augustine)
Four Discourses (St. John Chrysostom)

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