Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 26
Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
Poor Lazarus and the rich man
"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.'"
Reflection
Don't let that great divide of trust keep you from being separated from God. It happens to all of us at some time or another. We fail to trust in God and decide that the only way to handle the situation is to take control of it and settle the issue once and for all time. That doesn't always work!
The problem is, sometimes it does work. So we feel that we are in control of our own destiny to the point of having too much confidence in ourselves and no confidence in God. Trust is absent and we are left standing on the wrong side of the chasm.
See what God has done for you through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus in this world. Open you ears and listen to the word. There are some finite things in life that you are not in control of. You must depend on God for these situations. God comes to us and calls us and wants us to be in relationship with him. Like it or not, you and I were created for God. God was not created for you or I but we were created to please God.
Prayer
Lord, open my ears to hear and see the Word. Let my life please you and may your will be in all my decisions. --- Amen
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