Complicit

22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. (Luke 16:22-23)

On the surface of Jesus' story about a poor man named Lazarus and an unnamed rich man, it looks like the poor man gains comfort in death as a result of his poor status in life, and the rich man is sent to Hades - losing all comfort - simply because he's rich. But the words of the rich man, after his death, give insight to his heart and to the treatment Lazarus likely endured in life. First the rich man asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus, like a servant, to dip a finger in the cool water and put it on the rich man's tongue to give him some relief. When that request fails, the rich man asks that Lazarus be sent to warn the rich man's siblings so they might avoid his fate. This request is also denied, with Abraham stating that the if rich man's siblings have ignored the word of Moses and the prophets, they will also be unconvinced by someone raised from the dead.

We are the siblings of the rich man. We have received the warnings of the prophets, and the words of Jesus - our resurrected savior. While the SNL skit from which our picture was taken highlights one specific instance of complicity, we are all complicit in the sufferings of our world - people and planet. I invite you to take and share the Complicity Cleanse to find ways to reverse the damage of oppression and planetary destruction. As we have shared in the causes, we can share in the solutions.

5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 146:5-10)