The Named Nameless (Luke 16:19-31)

It’s a fairly straightforward parable:  a rich man lived well, and a beggar named Lazarus barely lived.  When both of them died, the beggar was cared for in heaven above, and the rich man found himself hoping somebody would adjust the thermostat.  Okay, end of story.  Let’s all lay our heads down on our pews for the next twenty minutes.

As tempting as it might be to say this is a pretty quick story (and as tempting as it might be to have “nap time” after the work week), this parable does not go quietly into the little box we try to put it in.  Reading this parable is one thing.  Letting our brains get around the implications it has for us as the listener, well, that might just keep us up at night.

Like many short stories the parable is brief in length but delightful in little details that add some texture to the story for attentive readings.   Reading the Greek text, the words used to describe the rich man and Lazarus the beggar pop on the page.  The rich man dresses well (purple and linen served as high end fashion for the era), lives well (swimming pools, movie stars—oh wait, that’s The Beverly Hillbillies….), and eats well.   You could barely see the gate from the rich man’s banquet hall windows, but somewhere, down the rolling hills and the long driveway (a fountain or two dotting the path), there was the gate.  Just outside its locked doors, slumped down in a corner, is a beggar named Lazarus.

In his rags, Lazarus is covered in sores.  He yearns for even the most trivial of scraps from the rich man’s table.  Unfortunately, his likely competition, the dogs of the neighborhood eat up the trash faster than he can get to it.  Adding insult to his condition, the dogs worsen his sores by licking him.  The Greek text adds a nuance our English translations miss, stating that he is placed at the gates, perhaps by a friend.  Lazarus is disabled or barely ambulatory.  He slumps there at the gates, weakened by his lack of food, health, and wellbeing. 

What a contrast between these two persons!  One is dying for a morsel of food.  Another gorges himself to pass the time.  One barely leaves his table.  The other one can barely move.   As we say today, the two men are separated by a great divide. 

These two could be said to have nothing in common, save what is often called the greater leveler.  Death comes for both of them.  While one is likely buried with great fanfare and memorialized with tributes and grand parties, the other is barely remembered, let alone mourned.  Again, the parable spins its contrary-minded worldview:  the rich man is in hell, asking for at least a cup of water to ease his suffering for a moment.  Lazarus has no reason ever to want again, nestled there in the bosom of Abraham.  There’s still a great divide between the two, though this time (and forevermore), the rich man realizes the errors of his ways too little, too late.

At this point, a pop quiz question:  What is the beggar’s name?  <   >  Good, and can you tell me the rich man’s name?

Ah, the parable adds another little detail by leaving a detail out.  The rich man is known for his wealth, but he goes without name.  Lazarus, who could be considered among the many nameless of society, is given a dignity by this parable that the rich man and the economic and social standards of the day could not be bothered to grant.  That is, of course, until the tables are turned…..

In just three Sundays from now, we will welcome to the pulpit the Rev. Dr. Bill Herzog, a New Testament scholar and American Baptist minister.  Bill’s book on the parables (Parables as Subversive Speech, Westminster/John Knox Press, 1994) opened my eyes to the daring and often pointed criticism of “the way things are” found in the parables of Jesus.  He notes in this particular parable the named Lazarus and the nameless “rich man”.  As the rich man is in despair as he receives his fate in the afterlife, he cries out for Lazarus to help him. Bill remarks, “The rich man’s recognition of Lazarus exposes his hardness of heart. Lazarus was not just a nameless, anonymous beggar at his gate; the rich man knew his name. Whatever his sins may be, the rich man was not blind. He saw and knew Lazarus…..” (Parables as Subversive Speech, 123)

Lazarus goes without any dignity in the here and now, yet he is named and the rich man (who could be the Bill Gates or Warren Buffet of his day) is never named. Despite all the riches and power, the rich man is nameless in the parable.  Despite his greatness, the rich man was impoverished in charity of spirit and action alike, not caring one iota for this beggar, even as he knew the beggar’s name.  

Such a parable like Lazarus and the rich man raises the disturbing dimension of the New Testament.  The parable unmasks the flaws of society, as it is known by Lazarus, the rich man, the disciples, the sinners, the tax collectors, and the Pharisees.  Here, we encounter the disturbing questions of the parable, challenges that sting the conscience.  How do we know, yet ignore, the plight of others?  How can some live with a high privilege yet others live in grinding poverty?

Don’t let the parable fool you into complacent reading!  This two thousand year old story raises perennial questions.  We must hear this story as a cautionary tale, especially living as we do in a highly affluent country.  Even during a recession, as many U.S. household struggles to hang on, we have not experienced the level of complexity as other nations where clean water is a goal, not a reality, where malaria kills thousands, for want of medications that cost pennies or nets to ward off mosquitoes while people sleep at night.  We must recognize our commitments to tend and support those near and far is a key part of our faith, not just an optional “add-on” or dismissed “liberalism in religious guise” (if Glen Beck is to be believed).  To ignore this parable and its implications is to miss out on a significant strand of the gospel teachings:  the social responsibility values as found in the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Thankfully, we hear this parable at First Baptist with ears growing ever more perceptive to the needs of the world.  We have made significant strides in recent years to move our congregational mission into a variety of projects serving basic human needs.  Such work understands that people in our community, our nation, and among the many nations of the world, cannot take for granted that humanity has all of its basic needs being met:  shelter, access to basic food and healthcare, or economic sustainability. Through national and international efforts, especially the “Millennium Development Goals” given by the UN, the international community has established that we never should not let the banquet go on while the poor linger, nameless and malnourished at the gates. 

Closer to home, I note that First Baptist received some statewide recognition at a meeting held this past Thursday.  The Vermont Community Foundation is an organization promoting philanthropy for Vermont-based needs.  The VCF President spoke of how Vermont is blessed with a high number of non-profit organizations interested in improving the lives of Vermonters, however, the VCF is hopeful that these groups can be drawn together more creatively to work together, consolidate resources, and improve the type of services provided to a given community.  First Baptist was highlighted for our leadership in bringing Bennington area non-profits together through our collaborative efforts, particularly by what happens each day in this building.  Daily, over one hundred persons find support services and community activities right here at 601 Main, efforts that the congregation has made possible by saying “yes!” to moving forward into this new territory for churches to be in mission.

Among the many non-profit organizations and agencies supported by the VCF, we are one of a very small number of religious groups to receive VCF funds.  The VCF administration has noticed our work and hopes other communities can benefit from what we are pioneering right here.  They highlight our work with the hope that we can be a sign of hope and a collaborative for communities wanting to address local basic human needs.  With the recent grant of $6,000, we will be upgrading the fellowship hall to provide space for non-profit organizations to find a place for meetings, up-to-date video/sound and online capabilities.  Such efforts enrich the community with assets for the use and good of all.  In the VCF’s language, we are increasing “social capital”.  The VCF President defines the term as “the level of connection and trust in a community, the degree to which people know one another and are engaged with each other, and are supported by each other.  It’s a good thing.  People are involved, and people care.  And social capital doesn’t just make our communities better, it helps us as individuals in so many ways….”  (VCF Presidential Remarks, 09/23/2010)

As we move ahead on these projects, we will be exploring opportunities to grow our congregational and community area “social capital”.  For each Sunday of October, the 11 AM “adult forum” will offer a number of speakers to help us reflect on the local and global ways we can be agents of change and good neighbors.  Next Sunday, Charlie Gingo, a senior state official in human services work, will come and speak about the changing needs of Bennington.  (He’s been at the job for three decades, so he brings a wealth of experience about our community.)  Subsequent Sundays will have Sue Andrews from the Food & Fuel Fund and Free Clinic talking about our critical interfaith efforts to meet local needs, then Bill Herzog, noted New Testament scholar will speak about the New Testament and our gospel calling to serve God and neighbor.   We will also hear from Bert Marshall, a director for Church World Service, reflecting on our ways of helping out with global needs.  Then at the end of the month (Oct 31), our mission board will ask us to sit down and talk about the priorities for our mission budget in 2011.  Our speakers this month will help us see and know persons in need. 

Along the way, we will learn about our community and our global needs.  We will hear stories of persons who live in adversity and what we are doing to address basic human needs, near and far.  At the end of the day, we will have the great opportunity to make a difference and enrich the lives of neighbors, near and far.