The Rev. Peter
M. Carey
Sermon – 29
September 2013
St. Paul’s
Memorial Church – Charlottesville, Virginia
Luke – Rich Man
and Lazarus
Be aware
Care
Share
Jesus’ story
today from the gospel gives us a stark example of what not to do. The rich man was not aware, did not care, and
did not share.
The Rich Man’s
sin was his lack of any awareness at all of the suffering of Lazarus, rather he
was self-absorbed. He had no awareness
at all of this man’s suffering, right at his doorstep. And, for this, he was punished – perhaps
eternally in the fires of hell. … and
what about his lack of awareness.
The
Old Testament speaks an urgent and sufficient call to repentance. The rich
man’s failure to care for Lazarus is not in accord with the Old Testament and
with Jesus’ teaching in verse 9 (from last week: “And I tell you, make friends
for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may
welcome you into the eternal homes”.
Every Jew knew the Old Testament laws commanding the compassionate use of
riches, so the rich man had no excuse for his wanton neglect of one whom he saw
regularly, and could have helped easily.
Does the rich
man’s punishment seem harsh? Perhaps. However, Jesus is teaching us a hard lesson
that unless we need to be aware, to care, and to share. Of course we are so often preoccupied with
our lives, busy beyond all limits, we live and move and have our being, often,
with no awareness at all of those who are suffering and hurting all around
us. Of course, when we slow down, when
we turn aside, we might allow ourselves to be present, to see those around us,
to consider those outside our normal circles.
When we begin to pray to have our hearts softened, our eyes opened, our
ears unclogged, we might feel and see and hear the opportunities all around us.
Be aware!
The lesson is a
stark one for us sitting here, knowing, when we reflect just how rich we are,
and, also how unaware we can become of human suffering and even the humanity of
our fellow women and men. We have good
excuses for being caught up in our own lives, we have much to do, and even when
we don’t, we have much to be distracted by.
Walking down the street with both ears plugged up with our headphones,
either real or metaphorical.
I would propose
that Jesus is really calling us to be aware of the suffering around us, and
also to respond. Jesus not only calls
us, but also empowers us, arms us, supplies us, challenges us, and fills us
with the spirit, the enthusiasm to be aware, to care and to share! So, how do
we open our eyes and ears to see and hear those in need? I would say that the first step is to work to
soften our hearts, to find a prayer inside us to allow us to be present to the
needs of those around us, to find the humanity of the people who we encounter
every day – on the exit of the bypass on the way to Barracks Road, of the
people suffering loneliness, of the people cut off from their families, of the
people in every place whe are in need.
As we allow God to soften our hearts we deepen our awareness of the
larger world beyond our seemingly comfortable boundaries.
Care
As we are
praying to have our hearts softened, to be aware and to care we do well to turn
to the saints. The saints in the
church’s designation, and also the saints in our midst. Saints such as St. Francis, who left a life
of privilege and being the “rich man” who was unaware of the needs of people
all around him, to enter a life of joy and beauty amidst those in deepest
need. He accepted radical poverty and
gave away all the stuff that he had, so that he might live a life of deep
sharing and compassion.
Like Francis,
whose feast day we celebrate this week upcoming, we also have the opportunity
to share. Not out of guilt or coercion,
but I hope out of a deep sense of generosity which emerges from our own soft
hearts, our caring, and our gratitude.
And, it is not
merely these saints such as Francis, but the saints all around us. I am reminded of the inspiring words, “I sing
a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, who lived and died and
toiled and fought for the Lord they loved and knew….and I mean to be one
too.” [Though this hymn is often
maligned by some choir directors, it was one that inspired me when I was young,
and still does today.] How audacious to
think that we could also be saints – perhaps not like Francis, who gave it all
away, but we each can do more to be aware, to care, and to share.
I think that we
would do well to find the saints in our midst who have found a way to not only
open their hearts, and also to be aware, to care, and to share. Not every response is the same for
everyone. For some, it may be to devote
themselves to a cause, to find the work and ministry that gives joy, and also
serves the world’s deepest need.
“Let the beauty
you love be what you do, there are thousands of ways to kneel and kiss the
ground.” ~ Rumi
Folks at The
Haven
Canterbury at
Habitat
Eucharistic
Visitors
PACEM
What about our
wonderful Mary Lee Webb, here at St. Paul’s, who has spent many years serving
the elderly in our community through Ministry on the Aging. Visiting those in need, making sure that they
are cared for, bringing love and hope to those who are struggling with the ways
that the years offer us challenge and suffering and loneliness. Could we find a way to not only often our
hearts, but also to find a way to respond to the need in our midst?
What about our
dedicated parishioner, Dr. Tom Daniel who is off in Africa on a medical mission
trip; the second one he has embarked upon this year, to serve those in need…to
be aware, to care, and to share.
Wyatt
Melzer was a UVA Men's Lacrosse player who was wondering what he would do after college and he happened upon this wonderful organization, Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership. He decided to share his love for lacrosse, and all the wonderful lessons he learned here at UVA to young people in need in Harlem. …Harlem Lacrosse…leadership and teaching….lacrosse … caring and sharing!
“Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership is a nonprofit
organization that uses the game of lacrosse to help structure the lives of
at-risk middle school children in Harlem.”
“HLL is a school-based program
that operates in Harlem public middle schools. Throughout the school day, HLL
employees work closely with teachers, guidance counselors and school
administrators to identify and strategically recruit students who are
struggling behaviorally and academically to play lacrosse.”
“I am always half joking
with these guys, forget Wall Street, go be a teacher, get involved with
education
get involved with young
people
seeing Wyatt and the
influence he has had
I think it will be the kind
of thing that all of our guys will be interested in
How they can give back in a
situation like this.” ~ Coach Dom Starsia
Don’t be like
the rich man. Don’t wait for a deathbed
confession, don’t wait for the lightning to strike or the burning bush to appear. Be a saint.
Pray to soften your hearts. Find
the joy that comes through being present to our fellow people. See the way that Christ breaks into our
world. “There are thousands of ways to
kiss the ground,” and there are thousands of ways to worship God; to be aware,
to care, and to share.