[The Rich Man] cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:24-26, KJV)
Athens-based Artist Fikos gives a classical Greek spin to this week's featured image from the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection of the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. The sore-covered beggar can expect few crumbs of food or compassion from this smug little dinner party of Epicureans with their rarified menu, intent on avoiding pain and maximizing pleasure with no belief in a world to come. In this depiction of the great reversal in destinies, the Rich Man in the after life falls prey to the vengeance-minded Furies of Greek mythology. The pack of loving dogs are a whimsical addition with one even finding its way with Lazarus into the Bosom of Abraham! (John Kohan)