FROM REPENTANCE TO FAITH: BEYOND THE CHASM
Luke 16:19-31
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C
Analysis by Brian Moeller
19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He 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.’ 25But 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. 26Besides 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.’ 27He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house – 28for I have five brothers – that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
29Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31He 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.’”
From Wikimedia Commons
“Though we once teetered at the edge of the chasm of death and agony, we find the solid ground of righteousness through the Cross of Christ.”
DIAGNOSIS: The Unrepentant Death!
Step One: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem) – Repentance is for losers
Much like the world around us, this parable of the rich man and Lazarus provides all sorts of prompts that beg for our attention. Should we be focused on the disparity between the rich and the poor? How about the contrast between the world we live in, and the life of the world to come? Is this what heaven and hell are like? These things and more call to us and may distract from the real issue at hand that our suffering rich man is able to identify – the need for repentance in our lives, particularly for those we do not see nor turn toward in our neighbors. Folks would have looked at the poor man, covered in sores and begging for scraps, and wondered what sins he committed to end up that way. Conversely, they would see the purple-clad rich man as blessed by God and presumably righteousness.
Like it or not, we are no different. For example, how many times have you or someone you know rolled up the car window to avoid eye contact with someone begging at a stop light? We judge others as more sinful than ourselves, thereby quelling our own need for repentance. At least we aren’t like those people, right? Looks like they need to get right with God and leave us “good” people alone!
Step Two: Advanced Diagnosis (Internal Problem) – Bad preaching leads to Bad faith
If repentance is important to our well-being, then why aren’t we doing it? Because we listen to the wrong preachers – both in ancient times, and today as well.
We listen to the voices that say what we want to hear. Forget about humility and confession – we deserve a new purple robe, a sumptuous feast, and the adoration of others. Or in modern times, perhaps a Frappuccino, a new car, and a long Facebook post bragging about our latest vacation. The “likes” we receive become further proof of our rectitude.
As proper preaching gets exchanged for words of self-righteousness, prosperity gospels, bigoted propaganda, and a cult of personality, we find that faith in God and willingness to follow his word fades away.
Step Three: Final Diagnosis (Ultimate Problem) – We get what we deserve
In Jesus’ parable, death has come for Lazarus and the purple-clad eater of feasts. Their time for decision-making is over.
Our standing before God has nothing to do with being rich or poor. Instead, it’s all about hearing the call to repentance. Words that have been shared by Moses and the prophets. It seems that Lazarus had the faith and humility to repent, whereas the rich man did not.
Choosing to pass up the opportunity for repentance while we have it and continuing on a path of self-righteousness will lead us to face the same consequences as the rich man – an agony that does not end.
PROGNOSIS: The Life Beyond Death’s Chasm!
Step Four: Initial Prognosis (Ultimate Solution) – Crossing the chasm of sin
“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.” (verse 6)
Jesus tells this parable with his face set towards Jerusalem, where he will bridge the chasm of sin, death and the forces of evil. He takes all our sin – all our selfishness, our pride and our shame – and dies on the cross with them. The power of death and the Devil is defeated! Through our honest confession of sin, and faith in his crucifixion, death and resurrection for the atonement of our trespasses, we are absolved and made righteous before God.
Step Five: Advanced Prognosis (Internal Solution) – The Holy Spirit nurtures our faith
As the Small Catechism makes clear in its explanation to the Creed’s third article, we can do no good or God-pleasing thing without the Holy Spirit nurturing us through the gospel. Through our baptism, through our hearing of the message of Christ Crucified for us, the Advocate nurtures our faith.
Through faith, we get to come before our Triune God not only in penitent humility, but through the Christ’s forgiveness, with hearts full of thankfulness and praise. Though we once teetered at the edge of the chasm of death and agony, we find the solid ground of righteousness through the Cross of Christ.
Step Six: Final Prognosis (External Solution) – We preach repentance and forgiveness of sins
The rich man begged for someone to go and preach to his family, so they can be spared from an eternal fate.
Having heard the Gospel as God’s holy-ing good news, we reach out to others, offering them the same grace and mercy through Christ that we have received. We call for all to turn from the paths of sin and destruction to life in Christ. We share our message of light and life with all, whether they be rich or poor, healing the sick and suffering with promise and hope. There is no more chasm between us and all our neighbors of this world.
