Sermon: September 28, 2025

Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Today’s parable about the rich man and Lazarus encourages us to consider who is Lazarus lying at our door. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these who are my sisters and brothers, you did it to me.”

Jesus is Lazarus: Jesus is the one lying at the gate, with sores that the dogs lick at. Jesus is the one who is praying for a scrap to fall from the table to satisfy his agonizing hunger. Jesus is the one hoping for justice, respect, and the recognition of human dignity.

Jesus is Lazarus, who has been denied or has had difficulty accessing proper medical care, and left for the dogs to lick at their wounds. Jesus is the homeless person using newspapers as a mattress and a cardboard box as their only protection from the elements.

Jesus is the refugee and immigrant who risks their lives walking thousands of miles just to reach our doorstep because the horrors they are fleeing are much worse than the thought of coming here with absolutely nothing. As in the parable, they pray for a scrap to fall from our table to satisfy their agonizing hunger.

Jesus lies at our gate as the gay, lesbian, or transgender person struggling for justice, respect, and the recognition of basic human dignity. Jesus is the woman fighting for self-determination and the freedom to choose what happens to her own body.

Jesus is Lazarus. He is the tax collector, the sinner, and the outcast who is viewed as unacceptable and unworthy by today’s Pharisees, the politically powerful and rich of our society. It's maddening to see them exploit the Lazarus of our world and used as a commodity for political gain or cast aside and consider them unworthy and undesirable, as legislation and executive orders are passed to keep Lazarus in their place.

It is Jesus who lies at our gate. Do we walk past, so absorbed with ourselves and concerns of this world that we miss the child of God before our eyes, who is in need? Or are we mindful of the love of God and serve God in this present age? Because excluding even one person and throwing them to the margins of society is not living in the image of God’s love. God cares for and loves every human being; He loves all creation, and no one person is more precious than another.