The Rich Man & Lazarus

Today’s episode explored the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. On the surface, this parable is about wealth and poverty, but Fr Aaron argued that there is much more to this story and highlighted a deeper understanding. Namely, he showed how the rich man represents the Jewish religious establishment, who have the Law and the Prophets and are therefore spiritually wealthy. Lazarus, on the other hand, represents the Gentiles and the Jewish outcasts, who were outside the Jewish religious establishment and were ritually unclean. Those within the establishment hoarded God’s mercy for themselves, resulting in their condemnation. On the other hand, the angels, who represent the apostles, the messengers of the Gospel, bring the Gentiles and Jewish outcasts under God’s covenant.