Lazarus in Limbo

By ice rivers

Tue, 23 May 2023
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3 comments
 

Lazarus was very upset to be removed from heaven and brought back to Earth. What Lazarus didn't know was that he had not gone to heaven. He had gone to Limbo. Still Limbo was a lot better than his deathbed to which he returned. Christ brought Lazarus back from the dead just before his own crucifixion. In Catholic theology, it is believed that Christ's crucifixion played a pivotal role in opening the gates of heaven. According to Catholic doctrine, humanity was separated from God due to the original sin of Adam and Eve. This separation prevented humanity from entering into the fullness of eternal life with God.Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is considered to be an act of atonement for the sins of humanity. By willingly offering himself as a perfect sacrifice, Jesus paid the price for human sin and reconciled humanity with God. This act of redemption made it possible for the gates of heaven to be opened to all who believe in Jesus and follow him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that through his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus "opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him." It is believed that Jesus descended into hell, referred to as the "harrowing of hell," to liberate the souls of the righteous who died before his coming. Following his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and opened the way for all believers to attain eternal life with God.

We can not be sure if Lazarus died for the second time before or after Christ's crucifixion but let's assume that he died after the crucifixion. Not only would this make  Lazarus  the only person to journey from life to death and then the return trip to life and then back to death when death itself had been moved from Limbo to Heaven. Lazarus thought he knew what he was doing and where he was going when he passed for the second time.

He underestimated the experience. Although Limbo was a place of perfect natural happiness, where  souls are free from suffering, they do not possess the supernatural and beatific vision of God that is experienced in heaven. They are not in the direct presence of God, but they are not subject to any pain or punishment. For Lazarus the absence of pain was heavenly enough.

In contrast, heaven is the ultimate destination for those who have died in a state of grace, having been fully reconciled with God. It is the state of eternal communion and union with God, where the blessed enjoy the beatific vision, experiencing the fullness of God's presence, love, and glory. Heaven is a state of complete and perfect happiness, along with the eternal joy and sense of fulfillment not present in Limbo

On his return trip, Lazarus gained that perfect grasp of joy and fullfillment. He knew the difference.This was a particularly joyful time in heaven because all of the souls who had been waiting in Limbo for Christ to open the gates after his crucifixion and triumphant descent into Hell had finally gained entry.

In Catholic theology, it is believed that before Christ's descent into hell, the souls of the righteous who died before his coming were not trapped in hell but rather in a place called the Limbo of the Fathers or the "Bosom of Abraham." This was a temporary abode where the righteous souls were awaiting the coming of the Messiah and the fullness of salvation.

The Limbo of the Fathers was distinct from the hell of damnation, which is the place of eternal separation from God for those who have rejected Him. The souls in the Limbo of the Fathers were not being punished but rather were in a state of waiting and anticipation.

Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting

Lazarus had only waited four days.

Certificate 15
Other
Muttered Asides
Spiritual
Philosophy
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Lazarus' journey was certainly rather unique! It was actually out of the tomb that he was called out and came with the burial cloths still on him!

You deal with the great redemptive work of Christ here, though in the imaginary story of Lazarus you did before seems to be very vague of his understanding of Jesus being his Saviour, and a clear view of it being faith in Him that is the entry to heaven (cf Jesus' words to Martha, his sister in John 11: 25,26) and the event brought many to faith, and the leaders to plot to kill him. (45, 53 in that same chapter).

I don't find any reference to Limbo in the Bible, but the indication that all who looked to the coming Saviour would be saved by Him, and went to heaven like the dying thief immediately, though in some way awaiting bodily resurrection til He come again to bring judgement and new heaven and earth, the home of righteousness. The reference sometimes thought to be a descent into hell may be more referring to his preaching in times before his incarnation, through His Spirit.

We await the return of Christ, but we can have new life and assurance of heaven now if we accept Him!
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by ice rivers on

Thanks for reading....Yes of course my story is fictional but I make reference to Catholic beliefs. I find it unusual that the Bible says so little of Lazarus and thus leaves the character and the story open to interpretation. 

 

Submitted by ice rivers on

Thanks for reading....Yes of course my story is fictional but I make reference to Catholic beliefs. I find it unusual that the Bible says so little of Lazarus and thus leaves the character and the story open to interpretation.