Breaking the Word

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus…

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.  (Lk 1:26-38)

 

 

Mary was a historical person. She lived in a place and at a particular time. She was also betrothed to a person. She was conditioned and controlled by human situations. However she was not totally earthy in her living. That is to say that her living was also controlled by heavenly realities. She was open to the divine and lived her life on earth with the influence of the heavenly realities.

 

Her openness to the divine was rewarding for her (highly favoured one) and to the people (your son will be Jesus for the people). Openness to the divine is always beneficial. Openness to the divine makes her communicate with the divine through the angels. Hence openness with the divine makes one communicate with the divine and makes him receive rewards from the divine.

 

The rewards could even be such that it would be considered impossible in the human conditions. Divine controls the human situations and does things within human situations which normally would be impossible. Because, nothing is impossible for God. Divine entry into human conditions will make the impossible possible. 

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores…

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' …

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" (Lk 16:19-31)

 

 

The rich man lived a luxurious life. He did not have the need to worry about food and clothes. He had more than what he needed and even dogs could be fed with what he had. The poor man had nothing to wear; nothing to eat and he was with soars. Life on this earth was of extremities. Death is common to both and in fact to all. After death again life is different. The poor man was with Abraham and the rich man was suffering. But life on earth determined life after death.

 

Here on earth, there could have been some interaction between the rich and the poor. They could have assisted or shared their belongings with one another. In a sense they could have made an equal society. In the next world (in life after death) there would not be any possibility of interaction. They could not share their belongings. Also the people of the next world could not share anything with the people of this world.

 

If at all anything that could be done then, it should be only in this world. Here on this earth they have Moses and prophets. If they have listened to these people on earth and not changed their lives then they would not even change for a man after resurrection. This is indirectly telling the listeners that they would not listen to him after his resurrection as well.