Here is my sermon for this morning at St Laurence, Ramsgate:
Luke 16:19-end
Dives and Lazarus: both are "sons of Abraham" after the flesh.
1. TWO LIFE STYLES
a. The Rich Man fared sumptuously every day.
One fifth of the world's population eats three fifths of the world's food. The
British spend more money on pet food for their dogs cats and budgies than they
give for famine relief. The dogs in the rich man's kennels fared better than
the beggar at the rich man's gate.
b. The Beggar Man fared scantily every day.
Some who couldn't give money gave help; they carried him to the rich man's
gate every day. Even the dogs tried to comfort him with a friendly lick (or,
he was too weak to chase them away).
2. TWO DEATH STYLES
a. Angels carried Lazarus to his Reward.
Michelangelo's painting in the Sistine Chapel shows Lazarus, carried by
angels, touching finger tips with Abraham. He had a quarterguard of angels to
escort him Home (NB the role of angels). Paradise is a place of comfort :
"Many shall come from the East and the West and shall sit with Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 8:11). What a reunion in
the bosom of the Family of God.
b. Pallbearers carried Dives to his Grave.
As with the late unlamented Robert Maxwell, there was an elaborate funeral
with splendid memorial rites, even in the Mount of Olives cemetery. Hades is
a place of torment : "... but the children of the kingdom (i.e. ethnic Jews,
disbelievers) shall be cast out into outer darkness : there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12).
3. TWO POPULAR FALLACIES
a. "There is a second chance".
No : there is a "great gulf fixed". The most caring saint in Paradise cannot
visit hell (Hades). The most daring sinner in Hades cannot visit Paradise.
Only during this life can one cross the gulf between Nature and Grace. Beware
Esau, who "found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with
tears" (Hebrews 12:17). "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the Judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). No Second Chance; no Reincarnation either. It
was the devil's lie, "ye shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4). He was a liar
and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
b. "If someone came back I'd believe".
No : there is no greater miracle than Jesus' resurrection. He came back;
another Lazarus came back too (John 11:44); yet those who wouldn't believe
Moses and the Prophets (the Bible) remained unconvinced. Doubting Thomas
wanted to see before he'd believe; he had his wish; he was happy. Jesus said
"more happy are those who have not seen, and yet believed" (John 20:29).
____________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
