Could That Have Been You Out There?

Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

In today's meditation in Forward Day by Day we read:

At a time when there was a striking division between rich and poor, the rich man’s indifference to the poor man at his gate was not unusual. In fact, we all are surrounded by suffering in one form or another, and even if we do not live with the sumptuousness and extravagance of the rich man in the parable, we do find ourselves, perhaps in self-protection, turning indifferently away from the pain around us. It is difficult for us to read this story without a spasm of guilt.

What was the rich man’s sin? He did, of course, let a man lying outside his house starve for want of the bread which the rich man’s guests used to wipe their fingers before flinging it onto the floor. He did not see this poor scarecrow of a figure, racked with pain and disease, persecuted by the dogs and doubtless by flies and heat. But more than that, he failed to see that the poor man was a man exactly like himself, that in a sense he was himself. What people sated with this world’s goods choose is the hell of isolation, of being cut off from their fellow humans.

The description given sounds a lot like our own times do they not?  There are so many American's out of work.  Many are afraid of loosing their homes, jobs, futures and social security.  This past Thursday on September 23rd, more of health care reform went into effect.  Already many health insurance companies are looking for ways that they can avoid insuring children in our country.  Corporations are spending billions of dollars to use as their "free speech" so that the candidates they donate to will win the mid term elections.  They could careless if their money causes more people to be unemployed or even homeless, as long as they can keep their tax cuts and billion dollar profits and big bonuses that is all that matters to them.  As long as oil companies get to keep it quiet about how dangerous off shore drilling is, that it can lead to more disasters like in the Gulf of Mexico so what?   

Out in Scripture gives us some excellent thoughts about one of the Old Testament options for this weekend's Liturgy.

In Jeremiah 32, the prophet finds himself switching places as well. Notorious in the sight of King Zedekiah as the prophet of Jerusalem's doom, Jeremiah encounters the word of God. Jeremiah is no longer to condemn the holy city; instead, he is to purchase a field. This purchase guarantees the prophet a place in Jerusalem's long-term welfare. That's a switch.

God informs Jeremiah, "The right to possession and redemption is yours" (Jeremiah 32:8). These words, addressed to a bleak situation, may speak to marginalized church communities today. We still need prophets through whom God encourages such communities to claim themselves as "church." Many communities of faith live out of a trunk, renting space from some other organization or church — outside the traditional model of building — yet they are truly church. Many of these faith communities are served by and serve those often marginalized — including the LGBT community. What is God's word to such marginalized churches? God has a place for you. Furthermore, God's redemption is for all people, including the LGBT community. Jen Glass emphasizes, "What has been taken from us in the past, our right to attend churches — our being sent into exile, if you will — it's time we get it back. Our right of possession and redemption is God-given. How may we, like Jeremiah, invest in God's future?"

1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

In referring to our Gospel reading Jerome Kodell, OSB in The Collegeville Commentary New Testament Volume comments:

The rich man was oblivious to the needs of the beggar at his gate.  He did not realize the seriousness of the present opportunity in preparing for the eternal future (vv. 8-9).  It was not his wealth that kept him from Abraham's bosom, but his untrustworthy stewardship.  The lives of the two men were quite different, and so were their deaths.  Lazarus was carried away by angels, but the rich man is simply buried: it is the end for him, but the beginning for Lazarus.

The rich man is in the "netherworld," or Sheol, or Hades (as the Greek has it).  It is a place hopelessly separated from the place of happiness with Abraham, though not synonymous with our "hell."  The rich man can see Lazarus there (which probably increases is own torment).  The rich man still thinks of Lazarus as his errand boy, first asking that he bring a drop of water to cool his tongue, then that he go to warn his brothers.  Lazarus is probably surprised that the rich man knows his name." (Page 966).

There are so many people in our society that are still "left out" in the cold.  The poor, the elderly, the middle class these days and many minorities.  Of course that includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer and questioning (LGBTQ).  When people who are straight can get married to the person they love, join the military without getting kicked out because of who they love, keep their jobs without anyone questioning their sexual orientation, bring their spouses to America without their sexual orientation being a reason to not immigrate them, while LGBTQ people can do none of the above without our issues being part of election ballots, legislative action, or court cases, America is a place of the have's and the have not's.  When the Church is a place where people are rewarded for being heterosexual, but being punished for being LGBTQ and not allowing us to be ordained or to participate in religious marriage rites, the Church is a house of oppression.  When the Church or our common Society sees one group of people as being worthy of full and equal rights protection under the law while others have to work harder because of skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ability to work, write or speak one language, their gender, ability or challenge etc to be considered a valuable citizen, we have created a society and a Church of the privileged and the under privileged.   When we ignore these things, we are ignoring Jesus Christ who is asking us to help him in those whom we neglect.

Out in Scripture's continued commentary on the Gospel this Sunday invites us to consider:

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 shocks us because its logic is so direct. One person enjoys wealth and pleasure in this life, while another suffers poverty and disease. In the next life they find their fortunes reversed. They have switched roles. Can it be true? Does God really reverse the fortunes of the haves and the have-nots? Is the truth so direct? So stark?

What if we imagined the story in a contemporary context with new characters, one character straight and the other gay? Let us suppose the straight person kept the gay one from church and refused the gay one access to communion, ordination and the blessing of a holy union or marriage. Perhaps the straight character thought the gay one was disordered, evil, unworthy of God's love and salvation. The straight one used the Bible against the gay one and condemned all who were gay. How ironic then that the straight person, upon death would end up in Hades, while the gay one would be carried away by the angels.

We could imagine another switch, not the straight and the gay one, but perhaps the gay and the straight one. Whatever role we privilege, the focus remains how we treat one another. Those of us in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community can certainly vilify certain persons and communities as our "enemies." However, if those "enemies" sat outside our gate wounded and in need of help, we would be just as guilty for walking past them and not caring for them as some others have done in some cases to us. Our lives in Christ, no matter who we are and whom we love, are meant for doing good, for being generous and sharing. 

The LGBTQ Communities as well as even the most welcoming of church communities struggle to make their places of entertainment, fund raising and work towards equality inclusive places and events.

This past Friday night my partner Jason and I were treated to a fund raiser event for Mark Dayton who is the first marriage equality candidate to be running for Governor of Minnesota.  The magnificent concert was performed by 2-time Tony Award Nominee Gavin Creel who sang many of his favorite show tunes.  The concert hall at the Minneapolis Girl's Club was well attended, with so many LGBTQ people and our supporters showing support for the DFL Candidate.  As I was enjoying the concert I took a good look around the auditorium only to notice that there were not hardly any African American's in attendance.  Once again, the LGBTQ community sparked everyone's interest for marriage equality, without including other parts of our society that need to be included in our equal rights promotions.  The event succeeded in one sense, but failed in another as a very important part of our community was left out of the invitation.  

Working towards an inclusive society and a Church means being open to every one who is not yet fully included.  A heart that is open to Jesus Christ and helping to heal a society and Church broken by discrimination, welcomes and invites all individuals to respond and play their part.  When our Government, our churches and when we ourselves fail to open the doors of our hearts to those who are outside the steps of equal rights, or at the gate where poverty and depression own people, do not take the time to help heal the wounds created by in justice, it is Jesus Christ we are leaving outside.  We all share responsibility for the failures of society and the Church, so we all have the responsibility to help make things better for everyone.  It is an important part of our vocation as Christians and believers in God's unconditional and all inclusive love.  The Christian who refuses to take her or his part in this election year to help turn things around and help make an equal society for everyone who is hungry, homeless, elderly, LGBTQ and the like, is neglecting their responsibility to Jesus Christ.  It is our business as Christians to be concerned, and it is our place to help change things for the better.

What are some places where we can help change people's lives for the better?  How might God the Holy Spirit be calling us to recognize who is out and hurting in our communities, churches and places where we walk?  How is God calling us to use our wealth wisely to help others?  

If God is calling us, it is because God has given us so much that God wants to use through us.  For the sake of Jesus Christ who is in all who suffer and need help may we be ready to answer God's call of ministry and mission.

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 21, Book of Common Prayer, page 234).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, page 826)

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Almighty God,
        our lives are in your hands.
    We thank you for the gift of our very lives
         and for the many blessings you provide.
    As you continue to bless us,
        may we dwell in the shelter of your abundant love
        and may you inspire us and provide us with the strength
         to be good, righteous, generous, gentle and godly.
    Amen.  (Prayerfully Out in Scripture).