The Citizen, 2019-10-03, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019.
By Brian Hymers
Knox United Church, Belgrave
This week’s parable from the
writing of Luke 16: 19-31 is one we
have heard about, but is again one
that is not very popular. The
meaning is hidden and the
explanation is, as in most of Jesus’
teachings, quite simple, yet left to be
a bit of a riddle.
This parable is taken as a
badgering of the rich, yet it really
isn’t. Both men are introduced for
their face value, not to be used as
social separation, just merely
descriptions of both styles of life
during Jesus’ lifetime: the very rich
and the very poor.
This is not a parable about the rich
people against the poor people, it is
one about your relationship with
God.
The setting is outside the gated
community of nice properties,
owned by a well-to-do gentleman as
written in scripture as “a certain rich
man who was splendidly clothed in
purple and fine linen and who each
day lived each day in luxury”. He is
never named in our story, which
shows us a sign of plainness in
Jesus’ description of him. To Christ,
he is someone not overly special, he
is one of many people who have
managed to do quite well for
themselves in the economic climate
of the first century.
Due to his “life of luxury,” he had
little to worry about; little to fear and
little reason to pray to God for his
life and all that had been given to
him by God’s grace.
The second person is named
telling us he is special in Christ’s
eye. Lazarus was very poor, ill with
sores, no doubt homeless and lying
at the gate of a rich person’s property
wanting the scraps from their table
to survive.
This person has a special
relationship with Christ. Christ knew
him by name and knew of his life
because Lazarus would most likely
had prayed constantly to God for
help, to simply get through another
day, praying for a meal and praying
for a better life for himself.
We have two totally different
people and guess what? They both
pass away. Just like all of us will
someday.
The basic truth in this story is that
we will all face our demise and we
will all come to a day of judgment.
Have you prayed with thanks for all
that you have received in this life?
While in the realm of the heavens,
the rich man was buried, while our
poor man Lazarus’ soul was merely
picked up by angels, his earthy body
left or dumped somewhere.
In the place of Glory, the rich
gentleman and Lazarus met at a
distance. The rich fellow recognizes
and knows of Abraham and also sees
the beggar he so often stepped over
beside him.
The rich man wants the poor
fellow to aid him in his pain and
strife, asking Abraham to let the man
dip his once filthy finger into a pool
of water and place it upon his
tongue.
Abraham explains his plight,
telling him that he never prayed for
what he had and here you would not
receive what he wanted.
The tables turn and the rich man
wants to make amends for his
wrongs for his family. He is a caring
person, he knew he had done wrong
and wanted the poor man to return to
earth and tell his brothers of their
misgivings and lack of respect and
give praise to God and Abraham for
all the goodness they enjoy.
Abraham refused to let Lazarus
return to tell them.
This fellow, his brothers and all of
us have witnessed this time and
again and we are not responsive to
the call of God. The signs are
everywhere, through the poor, the
lonely and the ones marginalized
within our community. Yet, we turn a
blind eye to them.
The lesson in this parable is that
the mystery of God is delivered to us
in all whom we meet. Everyone we
come in contact with “is a child of
God” and is representing Christ to us
in a way we often refuse to see or
notice.
Don’t forget that God has a hand
in your successes. Give praise and
thanks for all you have received, as
well as the times when things did not
go so well; when you were down on
your luck and had sores upon your
body like poor Lazarus, the times of
high interest rates and missed bill
payments, overdraft and foreclosure
notices. God was there as well for
the good and the bad.
The moral of the story is to
constantly give thanks in the good
times as well as the bad; to look up
to God for guidance and courage.
Always have the spirit of Christ with
you in all you do.
Just as we make a vow during our
weddings – for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in health, this holds
true for our relationship with God
and his son Jesus. Our personal
commitment at our baptism is to
remain faithful at all times. We
should be making his presence
known to ourselves and to others.
Jesus is telling us that the cross is
the only answer to the burning
question of eternity. It is through
Jesus and your personal belief in him
that your lives are saved. All the
other false idols, the stuff of our
world, are only good in this life.
It turns out we are all openly
welcome in heaven, provided we
give thanks and praise for all that we
have received by the grace of God.
There is a country music song
lyric that struck me when I read this
parable and after reading it through a
couple of times, I tried to find its true
meaning, and looked up the song.
The song is entitled, “You’ll be
there”by George Strait and the line
is, “You never saw a hearse with a
luggage rack”.
Daily, we should be thankful for
all we have received and be full of
gratitude for getting us out of the
pickle we often find ourselves in.
Sending Abraham back to earth to
tell our children’s children to pray
and believe is too late; we are to
spread this knowledge to them today
and often as well as always.
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph’s
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com
519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn
Evangelical Missionary Church
9:30 a.m. Sunday School,
10:30 a.m. Worship - COMMUNION
Pastor Phil Delsaut -
“Following Jesus: Thy Kingdom Come!”
(Mt. 4:1-12ff)
5:30 p.m. Potluck, 6:30 p.m. HYMN SING
Sunday, October 6
Tuesdays 7-9 p.m. Celebrate Recovery
Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 p.m. – HEIRBORN (JK-Gr.6) & YOUTH GROUP (Gr. 7-12)
Sat. Oct. 5, 7:30-9 a.m. MEN’S BREAKFAST
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Worship & Sunday School - 11:00 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
We invite you to join our church family in:
Office Hours:
Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Worship Service at 9:30 am
Communion with
Rev. Elaine Strawbridge
Accessible
Sunday, October 6
Blyth United Church
Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 6
at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
The Regional Ministry of Hope
BLYTH BRUSSELS
Trinity St. John’s
9:15 am 11:15 am
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector
519-357-7781
email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
The‐Regional‐Ministry‐of‐ Hope
St. Paul’s Trinity
WINGHAM 11:15 am
These Anglican Churches
Welcome You
BRUSSELS
United Church
Sunday, October 6
Worship & Communion
at 11 a.m.
Worship leader, Rev. Elaine Strawbridge
All are Welcome
From the Minister’s Study
The people we meet deliver God’s mystery