Proper 21C

One of the awkward things about social media 

is that it classifies all our relationships as the same thing: friends.

Facebook has developed over the years some ability to separate out groups 

or individuals with which we have different kinds of relationships other than as friends.

We are all friends, yes,

but we are also acquaintances, family, colleagues, co-workers,

frienemies, slightly awkward friends of friends, or friends of friends of friends,

we are in groups of people we know well and some we don't know very well.

We all have lots of different kinds of relationships

throughout our lives. 

This is part of what makes so many of Jesus' parables easy to understand.

We have the same kinds of relationships with people now

as they had back then,

even if so much of the rest of our culture is different. 

Today, from the gospel of Luke

we hear a parable with some pretty interesting relationship dynamics going on. 

There are three people involved in the parable,

the rich man, usually known as Dives,

the beggar, Lazarus,

and Abraham, the prophet up in heaven. 

At the beginning of the parable we find out the relationship between the first two men,

Dives and Lazarus. 

Lazarus lives at Dives' gate, wishing he could eat Dives' scraps.

We assume, 

mostly because of other historical references 

to beggars who lived outside rich men's houses at the time, 

that Dives would have known of Lazarus,

would have known his name,

would have sent him on errands when Lazarus was well enough to do such tasks

and perhaps occasionally given him money or food when he was useful.

The relationship between Dives and Lazarus is pretty much one direction.

Dives looking down on Lazarus.

In the beginning of the parable we don't hear about either of these two men's  

relationship to Abraham,

but in the second part of the parable, this becomes crystal clear.

Lazarus dies and goes to heaven and talks directly with Abraham.

It seems like Lazarus probably knew Abraham, 

at least his story and his words well.

Whereas, 

Dives dies and goes to Hades, to hell, and cries out to Abraham for help

from across a great chasm.

It doesn't seem like Dives knew Abraham very well at all.

Sadly, even though Dives knew Lazarus,

Dives doesn't reach out to Lazarus directly.

Dives asks Abraham to send Lazarus to him, or to his brothers,

continuing his trend of looking down on Lazarus 

and not seeing him as an equal, 

as a brother in the faith. 

Dives continues to see Lazarus as a beggar, 

only good for running errands,

despite their change in situation.

It would have been a huge change in relationship 

if Dives had reached out to Lazarus himself,

before or after they had both died.

Castes differences have stood in the way of relationship 

throughout the centuries. 

Tribalism, nationalism, religious distinctions, race, class, sexuality, wealth, power,

people have consistently separated themselves from others who are different 

in any respect 

and found ways to look down on people in another group.

In the United States we have been divided by race,

class, gender, religion, sexuality, wealth. 

Even Episcopalians have a history of being a higher social class than other denominations.

The history of St. John's shows that kind of class structure.

Just look at the windows, 

no lower class group of people made the Tiffany Windows happen.

In my listening to different people's stories in the congregation,

especially some of the people who have been here longer than others,

I have heard of stories of people not being allowed or encouraged to be 

in relationship, in any way,

with people of other races or religions or social or economic standing. 

Thankfully the culture and class of the town of Franklin has changed over the years 

and we find ourselves in a different world than the world as it used to be.

Unfortunately, just because we live in a different time 

not all of us act differently than humans have throughout history.

Many today still separate themselves from others

based on differences.

Have any of you seen the Love Has No Labels videos?

I suggest you look them up.

The video features a giant x-ray screen 

that was set up downtown somewhere on the west coast

and shows different people going up on stage behind the screen

so that it projects their bones

and then they dance and kiss and hug and so forth.

After each group of people does their little bit behind the screen

they come out in front.

Not even Bones from the television show would be able to figure out so quickly

what color, what gender, what nationality

any of the people behind the screen were, 

until they are revealed in front of it.

At our most basic structure,

our bones,

we are all the same.

God gives each of us amazing gifts.

Gifts of money, talents, time in awesome quantities,

God gives gifts to us humans regardless of whether we deserve them.

God gives us the gift of relationship with others,

having all sorts of communities, families, friends around us.

All of these gifts can be shared with others. 

We are called to share equally, 

not only with those who deserve what we have to share,

but also with those who don't deserve what we have to share. 

Who do we need to reach out to? 

Who, like Lazarus, is living at our gate, wishing for scraps from our table? 

Sometimes not just in food,

but wishing for the scraps of our time or our talent or our money,

wishing for our relationship with them to grow.

We are called to recognize those around us as our brothers and sisters.

We need to have personal relationships with them.

All the people God created, 

and that is all of us, 

all seven billion people on the earth

are God's children.

Including those who think or believe or live differently than us.

Jesus was a champion of the poor, of the lonely, the outcasts, the immigrants, 

those who were sick or any kind of need.

All of us are sisters and brothers in Christ 

and we need to treat each other as if we can see Christ in the other.

Once we start, we do start to see Christ in the other,

and when we start seeing Christ in others,

we can see Christ throughout the world.

The story in Luke about Lazarus and the rich man, Dives

a reminder and warning to us about relationships

about how we use our money and gifts in our relationships

and what we believe about ourselves and others.

Dives does not recognize most of what has been given to him on earth,

but when he realizes this while burning up in hell,

it is too late and it is too late for his brothers as well. 

We have been given the prophets, Moses, even Jesus, 

the one who did resurrect from the dead!

We have been given everything Dives wanted,

but we still don't always listen to Jesus.

Thankfully it is not too late for us.

We can go forth into the world and recognize Christ in each other.

We can go forth, building up new and old relationships,

We have time to recognize Christ in everyone,

reaching out in love

to say, hello sister, hello brother,

come sit with me,

let's share God's love.

Amen.