Truly, He is Risen

 

"Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and she saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken our Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.

So Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple was running faster and arrived at the tomb first. When he stooped down to look he saw the linen wrappings lying there, but did not go in. The Simon Peter, who had been running behind him arrived, and went right into the tomb.

He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face cloth that had been on Jesus' head. It was not with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had arrived first, went into the tomb, and saw and believed. They still did not understand the scripture that Jesus must arise from the dead."

John 20:1-10

“There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen, and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his sores.

Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ But Abraham said to him, ‘My son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16:19-31

The sin of the rich man in the parable of Lazarus was not that he had been given great wealth, even though had no gratitude, and still thinks that it is all because of his own merits.  No, his sin is that his pride made him blind to the suffering of Lazarus, who sat every day on his doorstep.  He saw, but did not care.

It was in the torment of the abyss that the rich man's eyes were opened.  Looking across the great chasm he finally sees Lazarus and holy Abraham.  And the first thing that the rich man does is to beg for favors and comfort for himself, rather than forgiveness.

He feels no shame, no repentance, never once saying that he is sorry.  Even as his eyes were opened, his heart remained hardened in the grip of his greed.  His sins are the chasm that separates him from salvation.  He holds himself apart from the abundant grace of God.

Nations that have been blessed can blind themselves to the misuse of their power and good fortune, given to them by God, to harm and oppress others, to fulfill their own greed and vanity. They exalt themselves as the greatest good, the exceptional— even as they oppress and plunder and murder.  Until at long last God breaks the arm of their power, and with chastisements humbles them.

'The more secret God's hand is, the more powerful — the more silent, the more awful.'