Ignorance

I remember hearing a story from Jim Wallis of Sojourners, that the subway that brought congressional leaders to the Capitol building dropped them where they would have to literally step over homeless folk to get to work.  I do not believe that they ignored the homeless.  I am quite certain that they had them removed in time.

The unnamed rich man had it good.  He had benefitted from the system of empire that rewarded the ruthless and unscrupulous.  He was living the life.

Lazarus, the poor man, had nothing.  It had all been stripped away by the ruthless and unscrupulous for themselves.  But Lazarus did have a name.  It is derived from the Hebrew name, Eleazar - God has helped.  And His NAME was in the book of life.

So, as is the case for all of us, regardless of our economic standing, they both died.  Lazarus was carried by the Angels to be with Abraham.  The unnamed rich man died and went to be tormented in Hades.  Here, the rich man knew his place with Abraham, because status is huge in empire and Abraham had a great deal of it.  What he did not know, is that in heaven, there is no status.  That was his hell.  He tried to use his entitlement even to get Lazarus to be subservient to him for his own comfort and benefit.  Abraham had to educate him on his lack of status now - a gut punch to have to look around and see where he really was, who he really was, what he really was.  To his credit, the rich man had concern for his entitled brothers who had also given their souls to empire.  But he still did not get that his status and entitlement in empire got him NOTHING in the Kingdom.  He wanted them to be warned that the prophets who they ignored were right, along with the expectation in the law that children of God take care of one another, and especially the most vulnerable.  Abraham pointed out that they had been given the Good News of God in the Law and Prophets, a good news for the most vulnerable among us, that God takes sides.

Alright kids, what do we learn from the story?

We have the Good News of Jesus, which fulfills the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:34-40).
It commands us to live Kingdom of God, rather than empire values.
It commands us to actively commit on behalf of the stranger, even enemy and especially the most vulnerable (Luke 10:25-37).
It commands us to be satisfied with enough and to share from any abundance we may have.
It commands us to advocate on behalf of those who are most vulnerable.
It lifts up humility and not hubris, community and not individual status.
It lifts up generosity and not greed, enough for all and not an obscene abundance for a few while others go without what they need and struggle to survive.
It lifts up sharing power in mutual respect, and not gaining more in order to victimize others.
It bases our salvation on how we treat the most vulnerable (Matthew 25:31-46).
There is a heaven.
There is a hell.
Individuals, corporations, ideological groups and nations are ALL subject to them, in the end.
And, ignorance is NOT bliss in the Kingdom.

And the big lesson...

Ultimately, your well-being is tied to the well-being of all others around you.
Abuse, exploit or ignore them at your own peril.

Pastor Jamie