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Appendix 1. Asterius of Amasea’s Homily 1
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Jerome’s Homily 86 187 midst of so many wounds, he does not, however, think of the pain of his afflictions , but of the pangs of hunger. “Longing to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.” In a certain way, he is saying to the rich man: The crumbs from your table are enough for me; what you brush off the table, give in alms; draw profit from your losses. “Even the dogs would come and lick his sores.” What no man deigned to bathe and touch, gentle beasts lick. [58] “It came to pass that the poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried; and in hell lifting up his eyes. . . .” We have heard what each has suffered on earth; let us consider how they fare in the nether world. The temporal has passed and is over; what follows is for all eternity. Both are dead; the one is met by angels, the other with torments; the one is borne away on the shoulders of angels, the other goes to his punishment; the one, Abraham receives into his bosom of happiness; the other, hell devours. Lazarus “was borne away by the angels.” Great sufferings are suddenly exchanged for delights. He is carried by angels and borne away without even the effort of walking. He is carried after his great trials because he was exhausted. “Was borne away by the angels.” One angel was not enough to carry the pauper, but many came to form a chorus of jubilation. “Was borne away by angels.” Every angel rejoices to touch so precious a burden. With pleasure, they bear such burdens in order to conduct men into the kingdom of heaven. He was escorted and carried into the bosom of Abraham, not to the side of Abraham , but into the bosom of Abraham, that Abraham might caress him, revivify him; that he might hold him in his bosom and, like a tender and compassionate father, warm him back to life again. [78] “The rich man also died and was buried,” earth has returned to its earth. “In hell lifting up his eyes.” Note the import and appropriateness of each word. “In hell lifting up his eyes.” Lazarus was above; he was below; he lifted up his eyes to behold Lazarus, not to despise him. “Lifting up his eyes, being in torments.” His whole being was in anguish; his eyes alone were free, free to gaze upon the happiness of the other man. He was allowed the liberty of his eyes to be tortured the more because he does not enjoy what the other has. The riches of others are torments to those who are in poverty. “Lifting up his eyes, being in torments.” The one many angels carry away; the other is held fixed in never-ending torments. Being in torments: the Gospel did not say in torment, but in torments, for such are the rewards of covetous wealth. He saw Abraham afar off; he looked up at him only to increase his torture. “Lazarus in his bosom.” Abraham’s bosom was the poor man’s Paradise. 188 Appendix 2 “Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.” Someone may say to me: Is Paradise in the nether world? I say this, that Abraham’s bosom is true Paradise , but I also grant that the bosom of a holy man is Paradise. [97] “He cried out and said,” (excruciating pain increases the volume of the voice) “Father Abraham have pity on me.” “Father Abraham.” Even though I am in the grip of torments, nevertheless, I call upon my father. Just as that son who squandered all his possessions calls his father, even so I call you father, despite my punishments. By nature, I call you father, even though I have lost you as father through sin. Have pity on me. “In the nether world who gives you thanks?” Vain is your repentance in a place where there is no room for repentance. Torments, not the disposition of your soul, force you to repent. “Have pity on me.” A saint, indeed, is Abraham, holy and blessed, and all of us are in haste to enter his bosom, but I am not so sure that it is possible for anyone in hell or in heaven to feel pity. The Creator pities His creature; one Physician came to restore the dead, for the others...