Octave of Trinity, Lazarus and the rich man

The Gospel of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us to live by faith and not by sight. For by faith we learn that Lazarus’ poverty and sores were not indicative of who he truly was: a very rich and important person indeed, for at his death he was escorted by a multitude of angels to the bosom of Abraham; but the rich man’s purple and fine linen were useless and unable to help him when his soul went to hell. So also, Jesus knows Lazarus’ name, but not the name of the rich man (he has no name at all in hell); the names of all the faithful are known to Jesus because of Baptism in His holy name. And the fact that Lazarus was comforted in the bosom of Abraham means that this was a great feast, and the host of the feast has as his most favored guest the one who reclines at his breast. Such a great feast Lazarus eternally attends—the same feast to which we attend at the Supper ahead of time, for it is Christ’s Body and Blood—whose greatness is unseen by the eyes. Let us live by faith and not by sight. Sermon for the Octave of Trinity.