The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 28, 2025

SummaryMother Suzanne preaches on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke's gospel, emphasizing that Lazarus is the only character given a name in all of Jesus' parables, with his name meaning "God has helped you." She teaches that Jesus measures wealth not by what we have, but by how well we share what we've been given, calling disciples to live by God's economy of abundance and generosity rather than the world's economy of hoarding. The sermon connects this teaching to Grace Church's food pantry and upcoming pumpkin patch as examples of living into God's flowing economy of grace.THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                                                           Luke 16:19-31Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" Artwork:  The Parable of Lazarus, etching is by Jan Luyken (1649-1712)