Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
Read Luke 16:19-31 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. Verse 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, Verse 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. Verse 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. Verse 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. Verse 24He 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.' Verse 25But 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. Verse 26Besides 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.' Verse 27He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house- Verse 28for I have five brothers-that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Verse 29Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' Verse 30He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' Verse 31He 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.'"
Devotion
What do we do with what we hear? This gospel story caused Albert Schweitzer to go to Africa. Story: In a nice city church as the service was about to begin, a man wearing a large hat sat in the front pew. An usher leaned in discreetly asking him to remove his hat. “No!” The Head Usher asked. “No!” The president of the women’s society asked. “No!” As the service was to begin, the congregational president tiptoed forward trying to seize the hat. He missed! The man stood with the opening hymn, took off his hat and never put it back on. At the conclusion the four frustrated people approached him. “Sir, about the hat: in the “XXXX” church, men do not wear hats at worship.”
The reply: “I understand. I have been a “XXXX” all my life and a member here for five years, never meeting anyone. Today, I met an usher, head usher, women’s president and congregational president.”
This would never happen in a Lutheran Church, of course. Yet might there not be some things lying at the gates of our lives?
Prayer
Holy Father, hopefully we pray that we would help the hungry and the thirsty. If we are turning our heads and ignoring other people, needs and causes, we pray that You open our eyes and move our spirits to be willingly helpful. Amen.