Trinity 1

Text: Luke 16:19-31

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, we begin the season of Trinity in earnest.

For children, this might be seen as the long season because of the seemingly never changing or ending of the green paraments, or maybe that’s how you view it, too. But like every season of the Church Year, there is a purpose.

As we heard in Bible Study a while back,
Maria Augusta von Trapp describes the second half of the Church Year, following Pentecost and Holy Trinity, as “the Green Meadow” because of the green paraments and vestments that are used for the Sundays throughout the Time of the Church. The image of a green meadow is especially appropriate to the character of this time, which is tranquil, peaceful, and gentle, yet living and life-giving. Here, the nations find a home in the lush green pastures of the Word of Christ and in the outstretched branches of His tree of life. (In Around the Year with the Trapp Family (1955))

This season of enduring green paraments encourages growth and produces life-giving faith. However, I do not believe it to be as “tranquil, peaceful, and gentle,” as Maria von Trapp implies. Instead, today's account of the Rich Man and Lazarus is really jolting and sets a foundation for the remainder of the Trinity season.

Here’s what I mean by this: it draws a line in the sand and reveals a competing faith that trusts in this world with the Rich Man and then a faith that trusts in God with Lazarus.

So, who are these men?

The rich man is who we often want to be or who children aspire to be. Not only does he wear the best clothing, but he also eats well; he’s everyone’s honored guest – sitting with the cool kids and enjoying the luxuries of life without a thought to how they even come to him. There’s no checkbook to be balanced, no financial planners to meet with, and no limit on the credit card. No, the “good life” is simply all he knows, and for this reason, there is little need to think of eternal life or those beggars like Lazarus whose voices and presence simply became part of the rich man’s daily life.

In fact, the rich man is as attentive to Lazarus as maybe we are to the floor mats in the entryway as we enter this building – they’ve become part of our path in and out of Good Shepherd.

Honestly, if you are like me, you just don’t want to look at them or deal with them, so you don’t.  

Lazarus is to the rich man what a beggar at a street corner is to us today: an inconvenience. So, we do our best to avoid making eye contact. Much like we treat a coworker who traps us in a verbal hostage situation or a neighbor, you avoid as you prepare to turn into your driveway and get out of your vehicle. They’re always there; you’ve just decided not to acknowledge them.

But Lazarus. Why is he treated in such a way? What makes him different?

One might say it’s his appearance. The lack of beautiful clothing. Or maybe the sores that covered his body. Perhaps it’s the dogs that can be seen licking and soothing the pain of the sores.

In reality, what makes Lazarus different is his heart.

What defines Lazarus is his faith in God, even as he sits and lies in the dust of the earth.

This is what makes today’s Gospel so jolting and foundational; it’s really about two religions, two faiths.

A faith that puts its trust in this world or in oneself and the faith that trusts in Christ Jesus as its Savior.

Now, none of us will escape an earthly death, but only one faith leads to eternal life, and that is a trust placed in Jesus.

What faith possesses and leads you and your family?

Where do you spend all your time? What do you obsess over? What keeps you consistently on the go?

Like the rich man and Lazarus, judgment will come at the end of this life, and there will be no second chances.

You see this as the rich man finds himself in the torments of Hades after he dies. One fascinating thing is that, through his words, the rich man reveals he actually did see and know Lazarus; he just didn’t do anything to help him. We learn this as he says, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

The request to "send Lazarus" is imperative; it's a command. But again, what the rich man misses is that in death, the power, prestige, and riches once possessed in this life are no longer for man.

What is given as confessed in the creed will be eternal damnation or eternal life.

This is the foundational understanding we must have as we enter this green meadow of Trinity – a season meant to encourage spiritual growth and produce life-giving faith in each of us.

There is an end to this life, and only faith in Jesus, the “one who has risen from the dead,” will save you.

Here is one of the reasons we present Bibles to the congregation's children today: we want them to have the faith, to know God’s Word, and to be with Jesus today and eternally.

Now we know they, like us, will face the temptations and allures of this world. A world that leads you to believe the rich man’s life is the life of a “rich man.”

However, one who truly receives the greatest reward not only looks but, most importantly, has the faith of Lazarus.

This isn’t a pretty or easy life; instead, it’s a faith that looks up from the dust, opens sores of life, and trusts in your heavenly Father to care for you.

So, we teach best by being countercultural and little Lazarus’ ourselves, learning to sit and lie in the dust and ashes of life at the gate of our master, begging for His mercy.

When you feel alone and abandoned in life, come and be in the midst of His church, amid fellow beggars.

When ailments of the body consume you and death draws near, hear the comfort of God’s Word – learn from Lazarus how the torments of this life are but a season; God will grant you eternal mercy.

When the open sores of sin consume your heart, like that of a rebellious child, confess your sin to Jesus. Take the form of a beggar and speak aloud the ailments of your heart (your sins), come on bended knee to this rail and gate, and with your lips be fed with the flesh and blood of your Savior – a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for you, your children, and your children’s children.

Too often, we are led to believe this world offers us a life equal to or of greater value than the life granted in the waters of Holy Baptism. Our words and actions reveal this to be true as we pit the actions of daily life against the Church.

Yet, the power, prestige, and riches of this world fade away and cease in death.

But the gift of your baptism, the gift of eternal life with Jesus, remains for all who seek God’s Word while they still have life and breath.

So do not delay; live the life you were called to in the waters of Holy Baptism. Repent of your sin, and return to the meadow of God’s Word where He wishes to gather you along with all the poor Lazarus’ of this life into His eternal kingdom. A kingdom where all the children of God dwell forever – both young and old. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI