Practicing Proximity

Sermon Title: …In this week’s message, we reflect on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Gospel of Luke 16:19–31—a story that confronts the distance we often keep between comfort and suffering.Drawing from a recent gathering of the Reformed Church in America and the witness of the Belhar Confession, Rev. Emily McGinley explores what happens when followers of Jesus refuse to ignore the voices and experiences of those who have been harmed. Through the words of Jesus and the history of a confession born during apartheid, we’re invited to ask: What does it mean to truly listen? What might change in us if we hear the stories of those whose suffering has been easy for us to overlook?This message invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how the gospel calls us toward compassion, repentance, and a more honest love of neighbor.