Our present life & Change

In the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31) we read that Lazarus went to heaven, to the arms of Abraham and the rich man went to hell, pleading with Abraham to send Lazarus to the rescue.

"The Holy fathers tell us:

'But what do we learn from this? That no man can protect us there, if we are betrayed by our works, not because he will not, but because he can not. For these too take refuge in the impossibility, this the blessed Abraham also indicated, saying 'between us and you there is a great gulf,' so that not even when willing is it permitted to pass it...The end of each one is at the doors, whether he be old or young: and it not possible for men after have gone hence, either to buy oil any more, or to obtain pardon by prayers, though he who entreats be Abraham, or Noah, or Job, or Daniel." (St. John Chrysostom).

The story indicates that we will be judged by our works in our lives. Why does this matter? God is changeless and we can change. "Every rational creature suffers without number, and every person is different from hour to hour" (St. Isaac of Syria).

We are changeable, and we are changed for the better by becoming partakers of the Word: the Word (Jesus Christ) is changeless, and suffered no change for the worse when He became partaker of flesh by means of a rational soul." (St. Augustine of Hippo).