The Fourth Sunday in Lent (CL)

Luke 16:19-31

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹ who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ²⁴ And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ ²⁷ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ ²⁹ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

We have more than Moses and Elijah to teach us the truth. Christ came in the flesh and stood before people to reveal to them the truth. The Apostles passed on what they had learned. They called many to believe. Their words are still read among the people of God. We continue to call others to gather with us around the word of God.

Many people will find theirselves in a place they don't want to be. They are living a life of luxury. It is easy to talk down about rich people, but it is harder to ask what does it mean to be rich. Does it mean to work hard, or have money coming in for nothing? I love how easily some people can claim to poor, when they have more than others.

Lazarus was not just poor. He was not just a dog looking for scraps from a table. He was not just an outcast, but he was a sinner. No different from the rich man. The rich man was blessed by his unbelief and his sins. The sinners was disciplined and called to repentance. Many people do not need the church when things are going well, but when things get difficult they might turn to the church for help. But all of us are rich in sin, and poor in faith. God is calling you through his word, and even through one who died and will come back from the dead.