Now this is a parable that you can sink your teeth into! Last week's gospel lesson included one of the most difficult to understand passages in all of scripture, because it seemed to commend, shrewdness, cheating and lying, appearing convoluted and almost contrary to the rest of Scripture. Jesus calls it a parable...but, it's not like any of the other parables in the Bible... because parables are supposed to draw you in, not turn you away! The parable we've heard this morning--this has everything a preacher, or hearer of scripture could want! There are interesting, contrasting characters; there is conflict and drama; there is a plot that draws you in, and invites us to be a part of the parable. A good parable, cries out for us to step into the action, to see ourselves in the story, so that it is relevant and meaningful, and maybe, even life-changing for us. That's what this parable does.

     So, today, as we are invited into the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the question is, where do we stand; where do we see ourselves, in this parable? Are we, perhaps, the rich man? We are learning, all too painfully, that many in our world think of us as the rich folk, sitting in our fine clothes, feasting on our rich foods, accumulating more and more possessions, oblivious to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. We know that we've always had our critics in the world, but never has that hit so close to home, as now, when we hear interviews with those in the middle-east, interviews with those in third world countries, who seem pleased, in a way, that the terrorists of September 11, 2002 hit us where it hurts, in the pocket book, so to speak. It's painful for us to hear ourselves characterized as the rich men and women in the world, who are perceived by our poor neighbors, as unconcerned about them; as if we pass by them, like Lazarus at our gate, hardly noticing their existence. Though the terrorists who plot evil against, surely have many reasons for attacking us, one reason, at least, is to try to get our attention...to try to get us to, finally, notice the hurting, the hungry, the poverty-stricken Lazarus' in many countries around the world. And, they got our attention. Though they used tragic means to do so, and though they have now diverted attention away from what may have been valid reasons for wanting to get us to take notice, still, it hurts, because, most of us don't see ourselves as rich, or wealthy; most of us Americans are not ignorant, or in-sensitive to the plight of the poor, the hungry, the hurting in our world. In fact, many of us see ourselves, and our way of life, as instruments for the raising up of the poor, and the feeding of the hungry! Many of us care deeply about equality and justice for all people, throughout the world...and terrorism only hinders the helping. Terrorism, only disrupts whatever food and aid and assistance we can offer to the Lazarus' of our world. Whatever may be said about us, as Americans, and as Christians, don't accuse us of standing in the house of the rich man, completely unconcerned about the poor. That's not where we see ourselves, in the parable Jesus tells. But then, would we be comfortable standing with Lazarus?

     The ELCA some time ago passed a resolution that established a five-year program called, "Stand with Africa", aimed at focusing our attention on the plight of those who struggle with poverty and hunger and aids in Africa. But, "Standing with Africa", in this instance, is not the same as standing in the place of Lazarus. We can send food and assistance and medical personnel to Africa, but we are not standing in the place of the poor and the hurting. We can sympathize with Lazarus, but, most of us, here this morning, are not in the place of Lazarus. Yes, there are a few of us here who are struggling with unemployment, and financial strain, and loss of security...there are a few in our congregation who have real concerns about the future, and what will happen tomorrow, and next week, and next month...and these are valid concerns, for a few of us. But most of us, though we would hesitate to think of ourselves as rich, would also not think of ourselves as poor. We certainly, are not beggars; we're not worried about our next meal; we are not so infirmed, that the dogs come and lick our sores. Some of us may feel we stand with Lazarus; but we do not stand in his place. We are not, most of us, Lazarus. So, again we ask, where are we in this parable of Jesus?

     It seems most likely, that you and I, are the five brothers in the parable-still in the midst of life; still wrestling with how to live our lives; still able to go either way, in life, and for eternity. The real drama, in this parable, comes of course, from the reversal that occurs, when the poor man, Lazarus, dies; he goes to be comforted for eternity, in the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man dies and goes to Hades, where he is tormented in agony, in flames. In Jesus' world, no one expected that it could happen that way; everyone thought it would be the other way around...because wealth was considered to be proof that you are blessed by God, while poverty and illness was proof that you were cursed. What a shock, then, for Jesus to present a vision of Lazarus in a heavenly existence, and the rich man, in hell! A shock, not only for Jesus' hearers, but for the rich man, himself, who, upon realizing the truth of it, begs to have his brothers enlightened, while still in life, so that they might choose rightly, and live in such a way, that this would not happen to them, too! And though Abraham's reply might appear, heartless, he speaks the grace-full truth. God has already provided the means for the brothers to learn the truth...God has provided the writings of Moses and the prophets; and even more than that, God has provided that one should die, and then rise from the dead, to bring the good news of salvation! And God provided, not just some, one-- but His own Son, to speak with authority, and power, about death and life-- His own Son, to be the one, to die, and then rise from the dead, so that the five brothers, might hear, and believe, and have a change of heart and life. And that's where most of us find ourselves, in this parable. We are the siblings, of the man who has died. We are the ones, still in this life, who may, in a sense, have loved ones of our own-a mother or a father, sister or brother, son or daughter or friend-who even now, are on one side or the other of the great chasm, wishing they could return to us, to warn us... wishing, somehow, they could get word to us, now, to get us to amend our lives, now, before it's too late, for us! But, it is as Abraham says...we don't need warnings from the other side. We have all the instruction and information and truth that we need, from the writings of Moses and the prophets, and the testimony, not only of Jesus' teachings, but even more, the witness of His own death and resurrection...to help us to choose the right path in life. The path that leads not to torment and anguish, but to life with God, forever.

     St. Paul lays that path out for us, writing to Timothy, "if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these...for the love of money is the root of all evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, people of God," St. Paul says, "shun all this...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of eternal life...In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Paul writes, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame, until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, set your hopes on God; do good, be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, storing up for yourselves, the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of the life, that really is, life."

     That, is what we, the brothers and sisters who are still on this earth, are being called to be, and to do, through this parable. We hear it from Moses and the prophets...and it is confirmed by the blood of Jesus, who died on the cross, and was raised to new life, to show us the way. If we will not listen to Moses and the prophets, if we will not be convinced even by Jesus' death and resurrection, then, what will it take for us to change our way of life? What will it take for us to make a real commitment, to doing good, to being rich in good works, being ready to share, so that we may take hold of the life, that really is, life? Jesus himself, as he has drawn us into this parable, now leaves us questioning, ourselves, our priorities, our way of life. If His own death and resurrection will not bring us to a change of heart and life, now, before it's too late; Jesus asks...pleads...what will?