September 28, 2025: Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 16: 19-31
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.'”
When I first re-read this Scripture passage after many years, I missed the part that said Lazarus was “at the gate” of the rich man’s house, meaning he was close to where the rich man lived and there was no way the rich man could have not known he was there. Was this the result of hasty skimming or was I, like the rich man, perhaps averting my eyes from the knowledge this person in need could have been helped?
This passage has prompted me to reflect upon the question: who are the people in my life, right under my nose (so to speak), who need my care? Who need my unconditional love and acceptance? And what are the barriers to my ability to see their need? Could it be my biases, or my fear of change?
I believe our hearts have almost limitless ability to love if we allow ourselves to. But most of us withhold our love to those who are different from us, or who challenge the status quo, or who we believe (for whatever reason) are not deserving of our love. We need God’s grace to transform our hearts and remove the barriers to our loving wholeheartedly and without reserve.
Do we have a Lazarus in our lives, who lives at our gate, who needs our love?
Yes! Bloom, serve, love where you are planted. Thanks for the reminder.