Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Luke 16:19-31
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores.
(Luke 16:20)
The original Greek phrase in today's Gospel, translated here as "lying at his door," if translated literally would read "thrown" to his "gate." In other words, as one biblical commentator notes, Lazarus is "dumped" at the entrance of the rich man's home. Lazarus is not only poor, but he is probably also crippled and a social outcast [dogs licked his wounds].
The rich man was fully aware of the presence of Lazarus at his door. He refers to Lazarus by name when addressing Abraham from the netherworld.
The question for us is this: How shall we respond to any "Lazarus" who is "dumped" at our gate?
"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance."
(Luke 8:15)
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
