The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31.

On September 27, 2010, Ashland was privileged to have two mission partners with us, Rev. Dalia Margarita Valdes Hernandez  from Cuba and Rev. Fletcher Padoko from Malawi.  Our guests joined in a panel with Pastor Gretchen van Utt to reflect on Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Following are the main points of their reflections.  You can hear the entire discussion in the mp3 recording that follows.

• This is the only parable where someone has a name.  Lazarus has a name. In the city, you pass homeless people everyday.  When you don't know their names, it is easy to drive on by.   But when you know their names, know their story you fell compelled to help.  In the story Lazarus has a name but rich man doen't.  The name Lazarus means God has helped.
• When you know the name of someone they are important.
• In Malawi the people who assist don't have very much.  People who are old and poor are the ones who try to share what they have.
• Many times we think what we have to give is only material.  But we really have to give so much from our own being.
• When we know the name of someone, and they know our name, they expect so much from us.  This is something that Jesus taught us.
• It is more about the relationships than the stuff.
• The story is about doors.  On one side the wealthy; on the other is Lazarus, sore and hungry. Behind the door we have this ability to forget what might have brought Lazarus there.
• Why didn't Lazarus knock more loudly?  The rich man knew Lazarus was there, why didn't he open the door?
• Relationship opens the opportunity to take time to offer friendship and help.  We rationalize not opening the door, not inviting others to the table.
• An open door is an invitation to come in.  We keep doors closed for our own reasons.  In the book of Revelations Jesus says behold I am here at the door and calling you.  If someone opens the door I will come in.  How important it is to realize we are the door.  Our reasons keep us isolated.  Jesus calls us to open ourselves.  So we can reach out in solidarity, knowing each other much better.
• The parable is descriptive, not prescriptive.   We still have a chance to listen.  This is not what God wants for us.  We have the opportunity to open the door.
• Jesus said I am the door, I am the way.  In relationships between our churches and relationships between us personally we should be joined and go through these doors, and go this way, which is the way to the kingdom that Jesus invites us to take part in.  This offers us in the meantime a challenge in all these things we are listening to, to share new dreams and to report great things in his name.  The invitation is that each one of us might think when we leave here that we are beginning our own sermon.  So in this way we can apply what we have shared here.  We are all the church, Christ's church, where we want to be. We are a united church, everyone of us is the church.  The question is: what am I personally doing as a church, here where I am, in my work, where I live, in my family, in my church.  What is Jesus asking me to do in all these places?
• We are neither rich nor poor, we have both these traits.  What can we give? A smile, an embrace so many things that costs nothing but means everything.
  

Click the Play button ">" on the mp3 console bar to listen to the entire panel discussion. There is a brief pause before the discussion begins.