Sunday Worship
Welcome to our Sunday Worhip in Leesfield Parish. Our Church services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am at St Thomas'. If you're not able to be with us in person, you'll find the Gospel reading, a reflection and prayers below to help you worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Through all the Changing Scenes of Life"
Today's Gospel
Luke 16:19-31 The Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus said, "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.'".
Reflection
Today’s parable follows the stories of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the dishonest steward. It builds on Jesus’ message to distinguish between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven. It is not what we have in our lives, but what we do with our lives. It must be remembered that when Jesus told this parable he was addressing two distinct groups, the tax collectors & sinners and the Pharisees & scribes. It compares the relative differences in their lives and more importantly the consequences in their deaths.
Importantly, we need to understand that the distinction being made here, is not one between rich people and poor people, I have no doubt that there are plenty of poor people in hell and plenty of rich people in heaven! Wealth and good health are not an indication of righteousness or God’s blessing, albeit, like the Pharisees, quite a few people believe they are. Some wealthy people are Godly and some are quite clearly not. Similarly poverty and ill health are not signs of Godliness.
The parable is a warning that we should not be complacent or self-righteous. We need to live the values of the bible as spoken through the prophets. We need to live lives where we are willing to help those who do not have the same blessings as we have. This was the example Jesus gave to us and describes in his teachings – we too must become servants.
The other key message here, is that we need to consider today, if we need to change our perspective and actions, rather than leave it for another day. Are we really doing all that we can for others? How often have you heard the phrase, “if only I could turn the clock back”? German theologian, Dr. Helmut Thielicke's wrote, "The torment of the dead is that they cannot warn the living, just as it is the torment of the mature that the erring young will not listen to them."
As Christians, it is our duty to be accountable for the least of the society. Our Saviour Jesus Christ demonstrated it for us throughout his whole life and in his parables. Paul
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