Description
This week’s story from Luke is an unusual and very complex parable. Jesus sets up a comparison between an unnamed very rich man and a very poor one named Lazarus. The rich man wears purple cloth, of high quality and fashion. What a strange description! This odd description could be totally overlooked by us today, but in Jesus’ time only the very wealthiest of people could afford purple cloth. The dyes used to make it were incredibly expensive, and as a result only worn by royalty or the very wealthiest people. The writer wants us to understand that the wealthy man is EXTREMELY WEALTHY.
In contrast, the description of Lazarus is rather revolting. His body was covered in ugly skin lesions. His skin was so awful and smelled so bad that Dogs would come and lick the sores on his skin. He was so hungry he wished he could scavenge scraps from the rich man’s trash. Lazarus’s situation is so dire, that we can imagine that his death might have come as a relief.
Jesus uses the literary technique of hyperbole in the way he describes the two characters. The first activity provides a way to explore the use of this writing technique, and to think about how it helps the reader to understand what Jesus is trying to say.
The story goes on to contrast the experience of the two characters after their deaths. Again, using hyperbole, Lazarus, the poor man is carried up into heaven into the arms of Father Abraham. The rich man finds himself in torment in the place of the dead. The second activity provides a hands on craft that can be used to encourage “wondering questions” and discussion of the purpose the parable and its message for us today in an intergenerational group.
The final activities provide two different ways to encourage a community to pray for forgiveness together. Both the contemplative activity and the more interactive one are suitable for people of all ages. They work well with this week’s story or could be used any week to focus on confession and absolution.
