The First Sunday after Trinity - June 6, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The First Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (June 6, 2010)

“Higher Ground?”

Readings:  
    Psalm 33:12-33
    Genesis 15:1-6
    1 John 4:16-21
    Luke 16:19-31

Sermon Form:    Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 16th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verses.

Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Two men.  One rich, one poor.  One had all there was to have, one had no part of anything.  One was carried away with fun, food, and frivolity, the other is just literally carried away by whomever would pick him up and literally carry him to the next place.  Quite a contrast.  One it would seem has the high ground and the other has the low life, but in this parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the reversal happens.  He who thought he was high and mighty is cast low, and he who is low is held in high esteem.

Ironic isn’t it that this reading should this year land on the anniversary of the D-Day invasion.  For on June 6, 1944, over 160,000 men prepared to land at Normandy, with support from over 5000 ships and 195,000 naval and army/airforce troops.  And in that battle it appeared that the German army had the high ground, dug-in, reinforced, mine fields in place both at sea and on the beachheads, they were well prepared.  I’m not sure that anyone would say that the Germans were over confident, but they certainly had a better and a more enviable starting position.  The allied forces were in landing crafts hampered by weather, delayed by a day, hindered by low clouds and fog, yet the battle was begun on June 6th.  The high ground and the low ground, comfort in position, discomfort and terror.  It would seem that these troops had nothing in common on this day.  But sadly they did share one thing in common, and that is that both of these troops were staring death in the face, many died that day, whether or not they had the low ground or high ground.  Less than a year would go by to V-E day, and four months after that V-J day.  We honor those fallen soldiers who gave up their lives so that we can stand here today and remember the anniversary of that beginning of the final campaign that started at Normandy.  The underdog had won, the reversal had taken place.

And so also the reversal takes place in Jesus’ parable.  The rich man dies, the poor man Lazarus dies.  And these two men did have one thing in common.  They both died and they both were able to meet Abraham.  As in life so it was in death, the two men were again separated.  But in death Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s bosom by angels while the rich man was tormented in hell.  And ironically the first thing the rich man tries to do is to negotiate with Abraham.  For first thing which the rich man asks for a drop of water and then when that request failed he asked to have Lazarus warn his brothers so that they would not suffer the same terror and agony that he was experiencing.  Pretty crazy isn’t it?  The rich man is still trying to move Lazarus around as if he was still lying in front of the rich man’s gate.  But it was too late, the rich man had received his judgment just as Lazarus had received his too. Death inescapable for both men., yet for the rich man the terror and agony of death was more than he could bear, all his wealth, all his resources, could not buy even a single drop of water.  Nor could the rich man’s wealth could no longer be used to warn others.  His money and affluence were gone, he was lost, and to the world he was forgotten.  The rich man paid no attention to God while he was living, he only lived to gratify his lust, lived to himself and served only himself.  

We too think we have the high ground with our fellow man, we are better than they are just because we have something they don’t.  But in reality, the idea that "Wealth always means: God has blessed you" or, "Suffering always means: you must have sinned" are both totally wrong.  This parable is not critical of wealth, but with the irresponsibility with perceived wealth. The rich man used his earthly resources to feed his pride and his self-indulgent lifestyle. He cared nothing for his religion, the people around him or the needy in his community. Yet, in hell, the rich man continued to see Lazarus as an inferior who should serve him.

Repent.  For the thoughts and ideas which center only upon ourselves land us along side of the rich man in Jesus’ parable. The truth is that Jesus Christ was made man and walked upon this earth, He died on the cross and was raised from the dead.  Yet there are those, just like in the parable who, “will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”  Whether we have all that life can possibly give us or whether we think we have something less than our neighbor.  Whether we have been blessed with good health or a life full of challenges.  The reality is still the same, the great reversal has happened for you.  Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead for one and for all.  In Christ we have been given the victory over death, death has no longer has its sting.  

In the parable it is the first time that Jesus gave a name to a person Lazarus, which means “he whom God helps.”  In your baptism God places His sacred Name upon you, and from that point forward, you are “he whom God helps.”

Today we remember the anniversary of a day when many who served this country gave up their lives, for the pursuit of freedom.  Even greater still here today, we hear of Jesus Christ, came to offer you eternal freedom, and He does so by giving His life for you so that you may overcome all the challenges which this world has to offer.  Christ has done all this for you, for all who are baptized and believe.  And Jesus gives you reassurace of that promise as you receive His body and blood, and as you receive His blessing, as you receive His Holy Absolution.  And by His work and His actions, Jesus Christ, took the lowly path to death so that may have the high ground of life eternal.  And Jesus brings that to you, whether you are rich or poor, and whether you are sick or well.  Know that in Jesus Christ you will never be forgotten, you are given His Name in baptism, and truthfully your name now well could be Lazarus because you are the one whom God helps.  For those who believe and are baptized your standing of your own acord does matter.  And for that you will be eternally grateful, because Jesus’ victory will give you the higher ground of eternal life.  Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
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