The Poor Man’s Name Means "God is on My Side"

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In all of Jesus’ parables, in all four of the Gospels, Lazarus is the only character with a proper name.

This Sunday’s lectionary Gospel is Luke 16.19-31.

Years ago, another Year C in Ordinary Time, I officiated at the wedding of a friend of mine in Farmville, Virginia. After the marriage ceremony was over, I was standing on the sidewalk outside the church, shaking hands with people, when this middle-aged woman with horn-rimmed glasses rushed up to me, thrust her hand out and began pumping my arm up and down

“Reverend, that was so wonderful!” she said. “Your sermon was so warm, lovely and uplifting. Most of the preaching I’ve ever heard is either about money or its all fire and brimstone. Do you know what I mean?”

I didn’t say anything one way or the other. I just smiled and moved on to shake the next hand.

But I could’ve said:

“Excellent! You should come to my church next weekend. Next weekend we’ll be talking about money and hell.”

Did you know Jesus talks about Hell more than Paul, Peter, Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel combined? Did you know that in St. Luke’s Gospel Jesus is constantly talking about money?