Lazarus & Rich Man

So what are we to say about this parable … In my study over the past week I’ve been struck by two strands of this story … As I’m a visual learner … I’m going to use the image of something that i suspect we all have in our pockets / wallets / purses - 1 or 2 Euro Coin 

when you look at those coins they are made up of 2 metals - both are need if they are separated the coin becomes useless! They are inextricably linked 

The outside strand i’m using as reflecting our actions

The internal one being our relationship with God 

So lets take our actions first … because that’s where Jesus begins the story - day after day the rich man is swanning about with his fine clothes and his good food. We’re not told but does he simply choose to ignore Lazarus?, does he just not see him sitting at the gate?  is there just too many poor people around about him that he has grown immune to suffering … which can happen. 

Does he not know how to help? If he feeds lazarus … will other comes and where will it end? 

Lukes Gospel in particular has a concern for the poor, the vulnerable and the outsider this parable reinforces this. those who as we have said were overlooked by the elite, the religious of the society of the day. 

I must admit this week I’ve been hugely challenged by this  this week - because of a few things 

On a local scale - the guys to come down to the bottom of the gate of the church - what should our response be as a church? 

On a national scale - the homeless crisis is being talked about both in abstract but also in reality - facts and figures have the potential to blind us to the individuals 

and the International Migrant & Refugee crisis - and I’m going to be a bit provocative for the moment - because I don't know what the answer is but I do know something needs to be done and  as Christians we do need to wrestle with it.  I don’t normally get this passionate but we are being called to do something 

I have been struck that we have a lot to learn from the leadership and challenge of our global partners. The diocese that we visited in Zambia are doing a huge amount in the area of helping those in poverty - at a local level individuals are responding to God’s call in small but effective ways. 

On an International level - Archbishop Chama - who invited us out to his diocese this week sent an letter on behalf of the 85 Million Members of the anglican communion to Banki Moon 

The global tragedy of the forced displacement of millions of people is now a crisis that calls us to work together in new and creative ways in response to such suffering and disruption. The trauma experienced by the world’s 60 million refugees speaks to our common humanity, and pleads with us to take action as we reach out to respond to their suffering.  However, people are not only fleeing conflict and violence, but also moving around the world to escape from poverty or the effects of climate change. People search to find places where they can work and feed their families, to find better opportunities or freedom to live in peace and safety, whoever they are.  All this demands a much more intentional and robust collective response in which the churches and other faith communities are more than ready to take their place.

In addition, as our church communities reach out in loving service to those who have lost everything and who often arrive profoundly traumatized, bearing both physical and psychological scars from their experiences, we know that these people, whom the world labels as refugees, asylum seekers or migrants are, like all the people of the earth, treasured human beings made in the image of God. They deserve safety, freedom and the opportunity to flourish. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people on the move, but we know that each of them is not only another number in a huge statistic but also an individual who brings a unique story of displacement, a unique potential to flourish and a unique ability to contribute to the common good.

In today’s world hospitality, reconciliation and love are our most formidable weapons against hatred and extremism.

This parable deals with the reality of the world, Action is important but we also need to remember how the author deals with the world … its through relationship … the heart of the coin - the core of our beliefs - what God has already revealed. 

When the rich man finds the reality that he’s not where he expected to be … he wanted to send a warning back but is prevented from doing so … the world has all the information it needs to make a decisions on how to live and what they should be doing 

Repent, doesn’t mean “to be sorry.” It means “to change, to alter course, to do a complete turn around and go the other way.” The rich man was in hell, not because he was rich, but because he had ignored Moses and the prophets. 

He should’ve repented on earth and obeyed Moses and the Prophets, but he didn’t. The Law and the Prophets had commanded the Jews to care for the poor and take care of the weak. There are many examples of this but just a couple will demonstrate the case.

 From the Law: Deut 15:11“Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” From the Prophets: Isaiah 58:10“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

Not long after Jesus told this story, a man called Lazarus would rise from the dead, in John 11. Did the Pharisees believe then? No, they sought to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

I love the old story of A Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge - the rich man who was changed by the appearance of the ghost of Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. 

But signs aren’t enough to make anyone believe. 

All who read & hear God’s word - have a responsibility to respond - as he calls. 

Yesterday I was up in Northern Ireland for a mission conference - and heard great stories from around the world where God’s word was being preached but also where faith was being put into action.

I loved the attitude of what they are trying to do. 

• See a need 
• Try our best to Meet that need 
• And trust God that he will supply what is needed 

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius - in the mid 60’s wrote in his devotions and is also spoken the film Gladiator - “What we do in life echoes in Eternity” and very much Jesus was saying this through the parable. What we do in our three score years and 10 or however many years we live matters.

 In today’s world hospitality, reconciliation and love are our most formidable weapons against hatred and extremism.

Much more than just a letter from a friend - A call for Justice, Peace, Reconciliation and hospitality in our world today

Ok,

Blog, Church, whosover reads this.

This is personal, it's global, it's rambling, it's my intial thoughts  - cutting right to the heart of what it means to be a Christian in our world today. To have it written by someone who I've been privileged to shake hands with and to be invited into their home on various occasions - I know his heart - and this letter is back up by his own actions in his home diocese as well as his work for the wider communion, africa and also the world.

Zambia META 2016 Team meeting Archbishop Albert Chama at his home in Kitwe 

The church - in our parish, in Ireland, in Europe needs to hear this and also needs to look at the implications for Justice, Peace and the integrity of creation you can read the letter in full without my thoughts on it on the Archbishop of Canterbury's blog.

http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5769/archbishop-of-central-africa-writes-to-ban-ki-moon-on-refugees 

Red & Emphasis mine 

Your Excellency,

I am writing at the request of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, as you prepare for the important Global Summit Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, which will be held next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The fact that the church is doing what the church should be doing at this time - ie showing leadership, showing that we have something to say in the public square is fantastic. The fact that the Anglican church is having its voice heard at this important meeting is great - we do have something to say! 

The global tragedy of the forced displacement of millions of people is now a crisis that calls us to work together in new and creative ways in response to such suffering and disruption. The trauma experienced by the world’s 60 million refugees speaks to our common humanity, and pleads with us to take action as we reach out to respond to their suffering.  However, people are not only fleeing conflict and violence, but also moving around the world to escape from poverty or the effects of climate change. People search to find places where they can work and feed their families, to find better opportunities or freedom to live in peace and safety, whoever they are.  All this demands a much more intentional and robust collective response in which the churches and other faith communities are more than ready to take their place.

This is a huge claim and I wonder if we in Ireland are?, if we in this parish are? if the church of Ireland is? - maybe we are, but I wonder are we? how do we get ready? is there things that we need to clear out of the way of our readiness? how can we support those who are on the front lines of those migrants and refugees? 

In the United Kingdom, in my own country Zambia, and in many of the 164 countries around the world in which the Anglican Communion is present, the churches, together with other local religious communities, are working with their United Nations and civil society partners and with governments to provide sanctuary and protection to those fleeing conflict and poverty.

There a huge pile of attitudes which need challenged - how can we properly work together with governments to help? - is the church called at this time to step up, to speak out for the marginalised and the vulnerable in this society? what does that look like? - do we not have enough stuff to worry about in our own parishes with our own people? do we not have homeless in our own cities to worry about? what does it mean to belong to a world wide family? 

In addition, as our church communities reach out in loving service to those who have lost everything and who often arrive profoundly traumatized, bearing both physical and psychological scars from their experiences, we know that these people, whom the world labels as refugees, asylum seekers or migrants are, like all the people of the earth, treasured human beings made in the image of God. They deserve safety, freedom and the opportunity to flourish. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people on the move, but we know that each of them is not only another number in a huge statistic but also an individual who brings a unique story of displacement, a unique potential to flourish and a unique ability to contribute to the common good.

Ouch! - this has huge implications - what about those people on our doorsteps - in our direct provision centres?, those who have made it to the front doors of our borders. Can we agree with Archbishop Albert Chama in this paragraph and if we do - what are the implications for our service, for our witness, for us in our priorities of ministry. 

Whilst responding to this massive movement of people is a humanitarian challenge for us all, we know that there are still governments around the world that are reluctant to accord such people any national legal protection or to recognise their status.  This only serves to exacerbate their situation, placing them at the mercy of human traffickers, smugglers and others who would exploit their predicament for profit.  The churches of the Anglican Communion are working to assist the dialogue with such governments and to advocate for stronger legal protection for these most vulnerable people.  We aim to contribute where possible to a durable solution that is based on appreciation of the dignity of the individual and respect for human rights.

It has been a real encouragement to see that in effect the church of Ireland is doing things - which is great - https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/6094/the-refugee-crisis-our-response but I wonder has this filtered down to parish level - to ask in our parishes how and what can we do to help petition governments to do more, to find out what practical solutions need done. This surely is the big social and political issue of our day and we cannot be found wanting. 

As I reflect on the reality around the world that the Anglican Communion is consistently at the forefront of humanitarian response, conflict prevention, above all currently in the Great Lakes of Africa and in South Sudan, and in rebuilding communities and lives, I recall the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the beginning of 2016:

"Standing by a mass grave that I had just consecrated for the bodies of clergy and lay leaders of Bor Cathedral, last January, and then hearing the Archbishop of the Sudan, whose home town it was, call for reconciliation, and to know that he is working with us on that now, was one of the most powerful moments of my life."

In today’s world hospitality, reconciliation and love are our most formidable weapons against hatred and extremism.

I just love this - Amen, Amen, Amen - but we need to been those who display this - It is all too easy to look at the news headlines and say woe is the day we live in - we need to choose - hospitality, reconciliation and love. 

So, as you and your staff prepare for these very important meetings, we express our warmest appreciation of our colleagues at the UNHCR and other UN partners. We commend to you our Anglican Communion representatives, The Right Reverend David Hamid and Canon Andrew Khoo – who will bring to the Summit the experience and the witness of the churches responding to the crisis in Europe and in South East Asia.

We also assure you that you are daily in our prayers in this work that we share,

The Most Revd Archbishop Albert Chama