**Please note this service is based on the format of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). Hymns and other prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
Introduction to the day
Consideration
of and care for those in need (especially those “at our gate,” visible to us,
of whom we are aware) is an essential component of good stewardship. It is in
the sharing of wealth that we avoid the snare of wealth. It is the one whom
death could not hold – who comes to us risen from the dead – who can free us
from the death grip of greed.
Gathering Song – Abide with Me (ELW #629)
Greeting
The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And
also with you.
Prayer of the Day
Let
us pray.
O
God, rich in mercy, you look with compassion on this troubled world. Feed us
with your grace, and grant us the treasure that comes only from you, through
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
Amen.
Readings
A
reading from the Book of Jeremiah. (32:1-3a, 6-15)
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth
year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the
prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace
of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah
had said, ‘Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give
this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; Jeremiah
said, The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is
going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right
of redemption by purchase is yours.’ Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the
court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me,
‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of
possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this
was the word of the Lord.
And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
The
word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
You
who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will
say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
For
he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he
will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You
will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or
the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Those
who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When
they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honour them.
With
long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.
A
reading from the First Letter of Paul to Timothy (6:6-19)
Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with
contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing
out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But
those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many
senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For
the love of money is a root of all kinds of 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, man of God, shun all this; pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good
fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and
for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In
the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in
his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to
keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time – he who is the
blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone
who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever
seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
The
word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The
Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy
Gospel according to Luke. (16:19-31)
Glory
to you, O Lord.
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine
linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what
fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The
rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he
looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out,
“Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his
finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But
Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good
things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here,
and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been
fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and
no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send
him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so
that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied,
“They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No,
father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”
He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise
to you, O Christ.
Sermon
May only truth be spoken, and truth heard.
Amen.
A few years ago, I was out for dinner with a friend.
We were seated at a table along the edge of an outdoor patio on Corydon. We
were near the end of our dinner, nibbling at the food still on our plates and
enjoy after-dinner drinks, when a man walked up to us and asked if he could
have the food that was left on our plates.
My immediate reaction was to say no
and send him on his way, but my friend said she would give him food, but he had
to tell her his story first. She genuinely wanted to know how he got to the
point of needing to beg for food. She listened intently and then wrapped up
some food in a napkin and gave it to him.
By asking his story, she made him
visible.
Many of the intersections in
Winnipeg have one or more people standing on the corner asking for change and
food. When cars are lined up at a red light, you will see them walking up and
down the rows with a cup in hand. Sometimes, if your window is down, they will
try and engage you in conversation. I will admit that more often than not, I avoid
making eye contact and make sure my window is closed.
These people have become invisible
to the world, blending into the background of city life.
Two similar situations, two very
different responses. I hate to assume, but I’m going to guess that most of us can
see ourselves in the second situation more than the first. And as much as we
want to deny it, when we hear today’s gospel, I feel that a lot of us can
identify more with the rich man than with Lazarus.
Now we do not ordinarily identify
ourselves as being rich. By global standards, however, if you have more than
one pair of shoes, more than one pair of underwear, and more than one meal a
day, you are rich. By North American standards, if you live above the official
poverty line, you are rich.
Jesus doesn’t even bother to give
the rich man a name in his story. He makes it clear that this man is living a
lavish lifestyle at the expense of others. This man lived his life adorned in
the finest clothes, including purple, which only the wealthiest could afford,
and feasting daily.
In starch contrast, there’s Lazarus.
The only thing that adorned him was sores, and all he had to eat were scraps
that fell from the rich man's table. Jesus even adds a detail that showed just
how low this guy was, that dogs licked or snipped at his wounds.
It is very likely that the rich man
would have passed Lazarus as he travelled to and from home every day. He was
sitting at the man’s gate. How could he not have passed him? But, undoubtedly,
the rich man didn’t see Lazarus. Or if he did see him, chose to ignore him. He
avoided eye contact and just went on with his life.
What causes people to have someone
in their line of sight and yet not really see them?
Indifference. The rich man was indifferent to
Lazarus, likely telling himself that Lazarus was undeserving of his attention. The
rich man felt nothing for the one over whom he literally had to step on his way
about his business every morning, noon, and night. Did the Rich Man develop a
sort of callus over his soul so that the plight of Lazarus would no longer
affect him? Did he no longer even see Lazarus at the gate?
These two men’s lives could not have been more different.
Their deaths were very different, as well.
The rest of the story centers on the reversal
of fortunes that takes place after Lazarus and the rich man die. It links agony
or comfort after death with how we treat the less fortunate around us, much
like Matthew links eternal life and punishment with how we treat the hungry and
thirsty, strangers, the naked, the sick, and those in prison.
Luke, in particular, stresses the way the
status of the rich and the poor is reversed in the kingdom of God. When Jesus
is conceived in Mary’s womb, she exults that the hungry have been filled and
the rich sent away empty. In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus tells the poor that
God favors them, and that the kingdom of God belongs to them, but he warns the
rich of what is to come since they have already received their consolation in
this life.
Luke makes clear that the poor are a focus of
Jesus’ ministry. In his inaugural sermon, Jesus declares that he has been
anointed by the Spirit of the Lord “to bring good news to the poor”. Jesus
admonishes his followers not just to invite to their parties the friends and
neighbors who can repay them, but to extend their invitations to “the poor, the
crippled, the lame, and the blind”. This is echoed when Jesus describes the
kingdom of God as a wedding banquet where the invitation has been extended to
“the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind”.
Many people reading this story of the rich man
and Lazarus assume the picture Jesus is painting is hell. But this parable
isn’t primarily a teaching about hell. Rather a teaching on the consequences of
our actions towards others.
In Jesus’ story, the rich man wasn’t thrown
into hell because he didn’t believe. He found himself in a place of torment
because of the way he treated others, specifically Lazarus.
But God isn’t the one locking the rich man
away. The rich man locked himself away; he chose to go there. Even when there
seemed to be an opportunity to repent and change his ways, he didn’t. Instead,
he demanded that Lazarus come and serve him again.
Jesus ends his story with a rather sad
statement, but one that will prove true. Even if someone were to be raised from
the dead and provide a warning, the living would still not be convinced to
change their ways. In a short time, Jesus will do just that, but still, that
won't be enough for some to change their ways.
So, what do we do with the indifference that we
have towards our Lazarus’?
We remind ourselves of the barriers that exist between
us and those who are less fortunate, and that we have the power to rewrite the
ending. We are those who have seen a man raised from the dead and that in his
name we are both able and committed to sharing water, love, and good news with
all those in need.
True followers of Christ will not be
indifferent to the plight of the poor like the rich man in this story was. God
loves the poor and is offended when they are neglected. In fact, those who show
mercy to the poor are in effect ministering to Christ personally. The Holy
Spirit’s residence in our hearts will most certainly impact how we live and
what we do.
God’s eternal judgment has everything to do
with how we use wealth in this life and whether we attend to those less
fortunate in our midst.
As the letter to Timothy says, our true hope rests not on the uncertainty of riches, but on our God who richly provides for us all that we need for richness of life.
Amen.
Hymn
of the Day
– Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (ELW #779)
Apostles’ Creed
Let us declare the faith of our baptism as we say together
the Apostles’ creed.
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I
believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On
the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
As scattered grains of wheat are gathered together into one
bread, so let us gather our prayers for the church, those in need, and all of
God’s good creation.
Silence
O God, rich in mercy, fill your church with righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Empower the baptized by your Spirit to be rich in good works and ready to share.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Protect the earth and its creatures. Provide water, food, shelter, and favorable habitats, especially for endangered species. Preserve threatened ice caps, glaciers, parks, and beaches.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Increase justice in nations, local governments, and courtrooms. Guide lawyers and those who hold public office to act with compassion and discernment.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Give food to the hungry. Set the captives free. Lift up those who are bowed down. Watch over the stranger. Tend to those who are ill. Stir us to act in the best interest of our neighbors.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Enliven our praise. Inspire musicians, artists, poets, and all who create beauty in this place.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Enfold the saints who have died in the arms of your loving care. Grant that the holy angels accompany us and bring us to eternal life with them in the light of your presence.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Gathered together in the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit, gracious God, we offer these and all our prayers to you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
Peace
The
peace of Christ be with you always.
And
also with you.
Offering Hymn – Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (ELW #608)
Offering Prayer
Let
us pray.
Gracious
God, in your great love you richly provide for our needs. Make of these gifts a
banquet of blessing, and make us ready to share with all in need; through Jesus
Christ, who sets a table for all.
Amen.
Dialogue
The
Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We
lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It
is right to give our thanks and praise.
Preface
It
is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that
we should at all times and in all places
give
thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through
our Savior Jesus Christ;
who
on this day overcame death and the grave,
and
by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And
so, with all the choirs of angels,
with
the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we
praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Thanksgiving at
the Table
Holy
God,
our Bread of life, our Table, and our Food,
you created a world in which all might be satisfied by your
abundance.
You
dined with Abraham and Sarah, promising them life,
and fed your people Israel with manna from heaven.
You
sent your Son to eat with sinners
and to become food for the world.
In
the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do
this for the remembrance of me.
Again,
after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do
this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering,
therefore,
his life given for us
and his rising from the grave,
we await his coming again to share with us the everlasting
feast.
By
your Spirit nurture and sustain us with this meal:
strengthen us to serve all in hunger and want,
and by this bread and cup make of us the body of your Son.
Through
him all glory and honor is yours,
Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church,
both now and forever.
Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father
in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us
today our daily bread.
Forgive us
our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from
the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the
kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
This
is the table of Christ. It is made ready for those who love him, and for those
who want to love him more. Come, whether you have much faith or little, have
tried to follow, or are afraid that you have failed. Come. Because it is
Christ's will that those who want to meet him, might meet him here.
Christ
invites you to this table.
Come,
taste and see.
Sharing of the Eucharist
Table Blessing
The
body and blood of our Lord
Jesus
Christ strengthen you
and
keep you in his grace.
Amen.
Prayer After Communion
As
we have feasted around the table, let us pray.
God
of the abundant table, you have refreshed our hearts in this meal with bread
for the journey.
Give
us your grace on the road that we might serve our neighbors with joy; for the
sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
God,
who gives life to all things
and
frees us from despair,
bless
you with truth and peace.
And
may the holy Trinity, ☩ one
God,
guide
you always in faith, hope, and love.
Amen.
Sending Song – Alle, Alle, Alleluia
Dismissal
Go
in peace, with Christ beside you.
Thanks be to God.
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