In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This is the only time in a parable that Jesus uses a proper name.. Lazarus.. Why because he knew Lazarus. Lazarus was his friend as well and Martha and Mary. The rich man says to Abraham ‘If you were to raise from the dead my brothers would believe.’ Abraham says ‘Even if one were to raise from the dead they would not believe.’

In today Gospel we see the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This is most likely the same Lazarus that was in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus does raise a man from the dead. We often hear people say ‘if I saw a great miracle I would believe.’ The rich man said ‘my brothers will believe if one were to raise from the dead.’ But did they?

Because in John 12 9-11 we read of a plot to kill Lazarus. Scripture says ‘ When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there , they came, not only on account of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as wee, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.’

A famous athesit Bernard Russel wrote that if he died and went to Heaven and found out God existed what would he say. He said ‘why didn’t you give more evidence.’ The very fact that that wanted to kill Lazarus prove the point that for many an atheist are not sincere. That there is no amount of evidence that would move them to believe in God. And if pray tell there was evidence such as someone raising from the dead, they would not only deny the evidence but try to get rid of the evidence as well. Which  prove what Abraham said to the rich man ‘that even if one were to raise from the dead they would not believe.’ 

The famous movie on Fatima ends with these words ‘For those who believe no miracles are necessary, for those who do not believe no miracles are possible.’