Parables are suppose to have nameless characters so that we who hear the parable can easily place ourselves into the story and become one of the characters in the story. But Jesus breaks this rule just once -- as iterated today at Mass by Fr. David of the Piarist Mission Fathers in Easern Kentucky:
When Jesus tells the story of the nameless rich man who dines sumptiously day after day while he allows the beggar Lazarus to sit at his gate but gives him no food. Seems that he does not even share the left overs or scraps with Lazarus. Then Lazarus dies and go to the Bosom of Abraham: heaven. Soon after the rich man dies and is tormented in the flames of hades. The rich man can see Lazarus in the Bosom of Abraham and calls out to Abraham to let Lazarus dip his finger in water and so the once rich man could have his thrist quenched. But Abraham says: "My child (of Abraham), you in your life time have had good things whereas Lazarus had bad things; but now he is comforted here." But Abraham said: "Between you and us is a great chasm (abyss) so that no one can cross over from this side to yours and yours to ours." Then the rich man said: "Then at least send Lazarus to my brothers so that they will not end up here.." But Abraham said: "Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them." But the rich man said: " O no, Father Abraham"; if you send someone from the dead, then they will be persuaded..." But Abraham responded: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe even if they see someone raised from the dead."
Wow! What a great story. It is a parable that is a foreshadowing of a coming real event. Jesus does in fact raise Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, after four days in the tomb onto life again. Now we know why Jesus broke his rule and did let one of his parables have a named character because let us look at the Pharisees response to Lazarus' resurrection/resusitation: noticing that many people were coming to believe in Jesus because of the miracle of rasing Lazarus from the dead, these religious lay leaders decided to plot to "kill Lazarus." "Unrepented Unbelief" is a deadly sin that kills the soul...both here and for all eternity! During this Lent, when the priest (Fr. Nick) placed ashes on our foreheads, he said like the prophet St. John would: "Repent and believe the Gospel!"
Now there is an old saying: "To those who believe, no proof is necessary; but for those who do not believe, no proof is possible." This is true with the Pharisees....and the words of the parable apply to them perfectly: "They will not believe even if some one rises from the dead." Now this comparison between the parable of Jesus and the actual event of raising Lazarus from the dead is the insight of Father David. I have been listening to sermonds for 70 years; and that was the first time I ever heard that comparison. And the comparison even gets better: Jesus is rises from the dead: "Destroy this temple; and in three days, I wil raise it up again." But the Pharisees bribe the Roman guards to say that Jesus' disciples came and stole the body away. One wonders that it would be so much easier and happier for the Pharisees to just believe in Jesus. But pride is the greatest of sins. It spawns all the other sins.
IN Eastern Kentucky, the Piarist Mission Fathers are building a new High School, college prep. They bought an old factory and collecting money to renovate it. I am hoping that Fr. Daved will read this blog and make comments. Seems that Colonel Harlan Sanders who amased a fortune from his Kentucky Fried Chicken empire, has started a Harlan Scholarship fund and endowed the U of Kentucky for those who wish to go to U of K (where I have attended myself in 1960). Any one who maitains a B average complete his bachelor degree and then go on to Law School at U of K...or to Medical School. Well, Fr. David's High School is going to prepare men and women for this chance to go on to college and post grad work. So, all you can do to help Fr. David would be appreciated. He is a wonderful man and full of the Holy Spirit..and looks just like "Fiar Tuck"of old Robin Hoods days..but this monk/Fr. David legitimately plans to "take from the rich and gives it to the poor!" In fact the "rich and the poor" are bonded together by the opportunity given to them in this new Christian/Catholic High School! But the Piarist Fathers have been feeding the poor in the Kentucky hills for many many years. So any donations to them goes to the poor. And Friar-Tuck-David would so appreciate your helping him to help the poor by ridding the forests in the Hills of Kentucky from hunger!
So, please donate to Fr. David at The Piarist Mission, Rt. 80, Box 870, Martin, Kentucy 41649 (606) 285-3950. These Fathers are truly doing God's work among the poor and have been doing this since 1583 when they were founded by St. Joseph Clalanz in Spain and have been here in the USA since 1940.
Thank you, peace and love, Pio
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