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136 ST. AUGUSTINE 65. ON THE RESURRECTION OF LAZAR US! Although we have complete confidence in the gospel history of the resurrection of Lazarus, nonetheless, I have no doubt that the event also has an allegorical significance. However, when events are interpreted allegorcially, they do not lose their historical value. For example, Paul explains the allegory of the two sons of Abraham, that they are the two Covenants. 2 But then did Abraham not exist, and did he not have those two sons? Therefore let us understand Lazarus in the tomb as an allegory for the soul buried by earthly sins, i.e., all mankind. In another place the Lord represents the soul by the one lost sheep for whose deliverance he says that he has descended, the ninety-nine other sheep having been left in the mountains. 3 Jesus's question, "Where have you laid him?"4 signifies, I think, our calling which comes about in secret, for the predestination of our calling is secret. The sign of this secret event is the Lord's question, as if he does not know (although we are the ones in ignorance, as the Apostle says: "that I may know even as I am known"5), or the Lord's claim elsewhere that he does not know sinners, expressed in the words: "I do not know you,"6 which the burial of Lazarus signified because in his teaching and commandments there is no sin. To this question corresponds that one in Genesis: "Adam, where are yoU?"7 because Adam had sinned and had hidden himself from the face of God. The burial of Lazarus signifies this hiding, so that the dead man corresponds to the one who sins, and the buried man, to the one who hid from God's face. "Take away the stone,"8 he says. This signifies, I think, 1 In 11.1-45. Cf. IE 49.1-24 (PL 35.1746-57). 2 Gal 4.22-24. 3 Lk 15.4. 4 In 11.34. 5 1 Cor 13.12. 6 Mt. 7.23. 7 Gn 3.9. 8 In 11.39. QUESTION 65 137 those who wanted to impose the burden of circumcision on the gentiles coming to the Church, against whom the Apostle writes in various ways,9 or [it signifies] the ones who live corruptly in the Church and are a cause of stumbling to those wishing to believe. Martha says to Jesus: "Lord, it is already the fourth day, and he stinks."lo The last of the four elements is earth, therefore this word signifies the stench of earthly sins, i.e., of carnal desires. "You are earth," the Lord says to Adam when he had sinned, "and to earth you will return." II Once the stone was removed, Lazarus went out of the tomb with his hands and feet wrapped, and his face was covered with a handkerchief. That he went out of the tomb signifies the soul withdrawing from carnal vices. That he was wrapped in bandages, however, signifies this: although we withdraw from carnal things and with the mind serve the Law of God, nonetheless, while situated in the body, we cannot be free from the vexations of the flesh as the Apostle says: "with the mind I serve the Law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin." 12 And that his face was covered with a handkerchief signifies that we cannot have full knowledge in this life, as the Apostle says: "Now we see by way of an indistinct mirror reflection, but later, face to face."13 And Jesus said: "Loose him, and allow him to go, "14 which means that after this life all coverings will be removed so that we may see face to face. Moreover, [the passage in question] provides an understanding of how great a difference there is between the man whom the Wisdom of God assumed, through whom we have been set free, and other men, because Lazarus is not loosed except by going out of the tomb. This means that, although the soul is reborn, as long as it sees the Lord by way of an indistinct mirror reflection, it cannot be free from all sin and ignorance except by a loosening from the body. 9 Cf. Gal 2. 10 In 4.39. 11 Gn 3.19. 12 Rom 7.25. 13 1 Cor 13.12. 14 In 11.44. [52.14.126.74] Project MUSE (2024-04-24 15:39...

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