The Rich Man in Torment

He was clothed in purple and fine linen.

He feasted sumptuously every day.

At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus.

He was covered with sores.

He desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.

Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

The poor man died.

He was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.

The rich man also died.

He was buried.

In Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes.

He saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

He called out: Father Abraham, have mercy on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue.

I am in anguish in this flame.

Abraham said: Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things.

And Lazarus in like manner bad things.

But now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.

Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed.

In order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able.

And none may cross from there to us.

The rich man said: Then I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house.

For I have five brothers.

So that he may warn them.

Lest they also come to this place of torment.

Abraham said: They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them hear them.

He said: No, Father Abraham. But if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.

Abraham said: If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.

The gate had been there his whole life.

Lazarus had been there his whole life.

He knew the man's name.

He knew it well enough to ask for him by name.

He had simply walked past him every day.

The chasm in death was a mirror of the distance he had maintained in life.

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