ONE QUESTION 

FOR LAZARUS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Monday in Holy Week  is, “One Question for Lazarus.”

LAZARUS IN THE GOSPLE OF JOHN

We heard in today’s gospel that lots of people - a large crowd of people - came to Bethany - to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus - to see Jesus - but I dare say, probably more - to see Lazarus - whom Jesus brought back from the dead.

My question: if you could ask Lazarus one question, what would it be?

Now the details of his story is only in one gospel, John’s gospel, in chapters 11 and 12. His name is mentioned 14 times there - and that’s it. Lazarus: the brother of Martha and Mary; the friend of Jesus.

LAZARUS IN THE GOSPLE OF LUKE

However, there is the other Lazarus in the 16^th Chapter of the gospel of Luke - who also dies - and we find out a lot more about what happens after death to him - than the real life Lazarus in the gospel of John.

This Luke is mentioned 5 times all in that 16^th chapter of Luke.

Luke’s story is a parable. John’s story is history - Biblical history.

ONE QUESTION

We don’t know if anyone asked the gospel of John’s Lazarus any questions. I would assume everyone who had a chance asked him, “What did you see in the next life?” “What was it like?” “Did you meet people?”  “Did you meet people whom you knew - people like your parents?”  “Hey, you were in the grave 4 days”  and the ever practical Martha said, “By now he has to be  stinking big time.” “Did you stink? Were you starting to decay? What was that like?”

What would be your one question, if you could ask Lazarus one question?

Would you ask, “Did you see God?”

Would you ask, “Do people have  bodies?” If they don’t, would you then ask a follow up question, “If they don’t have bodies, how do you see or know what’s what, what’s going on in the life after death?”

In the gospel of Luke, Chapter 16,  with the story - the parable  - of the other Lazarus, we have bodies and the visual. We have a big gap or chasm in between Hades - the down below - that is all flames, fire, to the up above, the bosom of Abraham.  The selfish, the self-centered rich man is dying of thirst down below and he finally spots the man he never spotted before, Lazarus, the poor man, now in the bosom of Abraham.

The Rich Man - he doesn’t have a name, some have called him Dives - asks two questions of Abraham. He makes two requests.

First, “Could Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” Abraham says, “Sorry you had your chance while on earth - besides there is no bridge from there to here.”  The rich man changes.

Surprise. The rich man changes. He thinks of others. It’s  his brothers. he starts thinking about. He asks Abraham a second question: if he could send Lazarus to his brothers and warn them before they die to do for others, so that they don’t end up here in torment.”

“Nope,” says Abraham. “They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them.”

It’s a great dialogue. The rich man yells back, “No, Father Abraham, but if someone comes back from the dead, they will repent.”

Once more Abraham says, “If they will not listen to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”

So that’s the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

BACK TO THE LAZARUS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Now let me get back to the story of Lazarus in today’s gospel from John.

Did people ask great questions and make great comments to Lazarus?

Would we ask, “Did you get a glimpse of heaven - as well as - a glimpse of hell?”

CONCLUSION

So that’s my homily for today.

I’m asking you to come up with one question you would ask someone who has come back from the dead - dead for 4 days.

Obviously the big message is: Jesus rose from the dead - some listened to him and some didn’t. Do we?

Some people are like the rich man or like Judas - who also didn’t care about anyone but himself? That’s hell here - and hereafter I assume.

Some people are like Mary and Martha - who were concerned about  others. That’s heaven here - and I assume afterwards. 

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Painting on top: Vincent Van Gogh, The Raising of Lazarus. [1889-1890]