角色转换了
在耶稣的这个比喻中，那个富人生活十分奢华。他从不知道饥肠辘辘和为生计奔波劳累的滋味。他生活在一个有大门保护的城镇里，每天都有乞丐前来求乞。在那个时期，人们普遍以为像他这样的财富是神所赐的福，因为这人很贴近神的心。
拉撒路是个坐在富人门口的乞丐。他浑身生疮，并且野狗来舔他的疮。那个富人大概不大喜悦每次从他有大门的豪宅出门或返家时，都要经过这乞丐拉撒路。
那个富人和拉撒路是世上截然不同的两种人，但他们有一点相同：都会死亡。死亡使得他们都要面对审判一切的神。只见这两个人的角色顿然互换了，富人处在无止尽的痛苦中，而拉撒路则活在神的安慰和慈爱看顾下。
“拉撒路”这个名字的意思是“神是我的帮助”。我们需要承认，我们在每天的选择上都需要神的帮助和引领。耶稣呼召我们使用神所赐的资源去看顾穷乏人。正如神看顾了我们，我们也能看顾他人。我们可以寻求公义，鼓舞穷苦人和受压迫的。正如大斋期提醒我们的，我们可以跟随耶稣的道路，为了祂的缘故向自己死，从而找到充实丰盛的人生。
主啊，求帮助我向自己的财富、野心和隐藏的罪死去，认识到只有在祢的里面才能找到生命。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 16:19-31
19 “有一个财主，穿着紫色袍和细麻布衣服，天天奢华宴乐。
20 又有一个讨饭的名叫拉撒路，浑身生疮，被人放在财主门口，
21 要得财主桌子上掉下来的零碎充饥，并且狗来舔他的疮。
22 后来那讨饭的死了，被天使带去放在亚伯拉罕的怀里。财主也死了，并且埋葬了。
23 他在阴间受痛苦，举目远远地望见亚伯拉罕，又望见拉撒路在他怀里，
24 就喊着说：‘我祖亚伯拉罕哪，可怜我吧！打发拉撒路来，用指头尖蘸点水，凉凉我的舌头，因为我在这火焰里极其痛苦。’
25 亚伯拉罕说：‘儿啊，你该回想你生前享过福，拉撒路也受过苦；如今他在这里得安慰，你倒受痛苦。
26 不但这样，并且在你我之间有深渊限定，以致人要从这边过到你们那边是不能的，要从那边过到我们这边也是不能的。’
27 财主说：‘我祖啊，既是这样，求你打发拉撒路到我父家去，
28 因为我还有五个弟兄，他可以对他们作见证，免得他们也来到这痛苦的地方。’
29 亚伯拉罕说：‘他们有摩西和先知的话可以听从。’
30 他说：‘我祖亚伯拉罕哪，不是的，若有一个从死里复活的，到他们那里去的，他们必要悔改。’
31 亚伯拉罕说：‘若不听从摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不听劝。’”
The Great Reversal
“In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” - Luke 16:23
In this parable of Jesus, the rich man lived in luxury. He never knew the harsh pangs of hunger or the weariness of working his fingers to the bone. He lived in a gated community to which beggars came daily. In those days it was commonly thought that wealth like his was a blessing from God because he was close to God.
Lazarus was a beggar who sat at the rich man’s gate. He was covered with sores, and stray dogs came to lick them. The rich man probably wouldn’t appreciate having to walk by Lazarus whenever he left or returned to his gated mansion.
The rich man and Lazarus were worlds apart on this earth, but they had one thing in common: they both died. Death brought them before the face of God, who judges all. And the roles were reversed for these men. The rich man found himself in torment with no relief, and Lazarus lived in the comfort and loving care of God.
The name Lazarus means “God is my help.” We need to acknowledge that we need God’s help and guidance in the choices we make each day. Jesus calls us to care for people in need, using the resources God has given us. Just as God has cared for us, we can care for others. We can seek justice and lift up the disadvantaged and oppressed. As the season of Lent reminds us, we can follow the way of Christ, dying to ourselves for his sake—and finding full life.
Lord, help me to die to my possessions, my ambitions, and my hidden sins, recognizing that life is found only in you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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