Scripture Scribbles: September 25, 2022

the Gospel

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man's table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied,

'My child, remember that you received

what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go

from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father,

send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,

so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

the devotion

He draws me near today to meditate on divine love and the eternal perspective. I sit beside the Pharisees, and press into Jesus’ heart through the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Honestly, I am convicted right with the Pharisees. The soft voice of perfect love and mercy shows me how it is less the feasting and finery than the smallness of the rich man’s perspective that separates him from God. How small are his desires (and mine), apart from their source and fulfillment in God. He and I are made to image God. And God is perfect love - ever receiving and ever giving. Instead of participating in the infinite, ever generous flow of divine love, the rich man hoards. 

“And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,” Jesus says. The hungry, the sick, the wounded are right here at my door. Am I giving away freely what has been given to me? Or do I hoard it, too? Grace upon grace has been poured out over me. How will I respond?

He asks me to unite every desire to its source and fulfillment in him. He is pointing to Lazarus at my door and inviting me to participate in perfect love. How amazing it is that I can return the desires of my heart to the one who created the universe and see them fulfilled in the great unfolding of his goodness!

Lord, help me pour your love and mercy over others. Without fear of scarcity. Without fear of poverty. With peace and joy. Unite my desires with yours.

Today’s devotion was written by Lucia Parker