Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

Pursue Virtue, Pursue Jesus

Outline

I’m OK so long as I do not hurt someone else

I bet that you have heard that, from some, perhaps with the suggestion that you mind your own business.

They often claim, “I’m a good person.”

Our texts suggest that they may not be as OK as they think

They may be among the cultural elites, perhaps culturally religious, but their focus is on their own comfort, not on God’s concerns.

Amos is speaking to such folk

I doubt that they were listening

They have comfort

They have the best food and drink

The have cultural delights

But they “are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph” - they do not care or they cannot see that the society of Israel is collapsing.

They are focused on their good, not others, so they will be the first to go into exile.

Paul also speaks about people who are going somewhere

He tells them to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

They are not concerned about their comfort, but about virtue.

They made a confession at baptism, but they are not complacent - they strive for greater likeness to Christ and live in the light of the return of Christ.

They are headed for a meeting with him, who is more glorious and honorable than words can describe.

They are not going into exile, but rather are preparing themselves for their true home.

And they definitely are not complacent.

The contrast is brought out by Jesus

There are two men

An unnamed rich man (unnamed in the sight of God, but well-known in his city, perhaps country).

He is concerned about himself and his social situation: dresses well, dines well, social leaders at his table, respected religiously also seems to be implied.

There is Lazarus, a poor man.

He is disabled, sick.

He lays at the door of the rich man, seeking alms from him or his guests.

We are told that no one gave him anything - the poor are often invisible.

Their presence discomfort the comfortable.

And he could not attend religious services, for he had sores and was therefore unclean.

The ones who are compassionate are the dogs, the very dogs under the table who eat the scraps tossed to them that Lazarus hungers for.

Lazarus dies.

If he is buried it is only to get his rotting body away from the gate.

But the angels carry his body to paradise.

The rich man dies and has a splendid burial in a tomb that surely is inscribed with his name.

Yet he is in Hades, the Greek abode of the dead.

The conversation between Abraham and the rich man (Lazarus is not addressed by either - Abraham will not disturb him and the rich man asks Abraham to send him as if he were a servant) is about who suffered in life and who was complacent but without love, without virtue.

Lazarus (in the context of Luke) suffers like Jesus and the rich man fails to see him as a neighbor, much less Jesus - he just fails to see him.

No, Lazarus will not serve the rich man who is getting justice, exiled from all that is pleasant.

Nor will he be sent to the man’s 5 brothers (the rich man does finally get concerned about someone else) for they have “Moses and the prophets.”

But this leaves the rich man in despair, for folk like him had learned to “read the word of God so that no word from God came.”

“But if someone rose from the dead!” No, says Abraham (with Jesus and Luke knowing about the resurrection of Jesus), they will not repent even if someone rises from the dead.

So, Sisters, the message to us is clear

Pursue virtue, pursue the love of the other, ask God to open your eyes to see the other and their need.

Keep our eyes on the coming Lord and his nod of approval and we are safe.

Get complacent and we are lost, exiled from the hope of heaven.

Nor should we be complacent that that it could not happen to us: bishops, abbots, priests, and other knowledgable Christians down the ages have been complacent.

I have even heard some Catholic leaders (not to mention Protestants) in my hearing rationalize why they should not help the poor.

May God give them the grace of repentance.

Pursue virtue, keep your eyes on God, lay your suffering before him, so you stay on the road to his presence.

Complacency is our enemy, while comparing ourselves to Christ is what will welcome us into eternal habitations.

Readings

FIRST READING

Amos 6:1a, 4–7

1 Woe to those who are complacent in Zion,

secure on the mount of Samaria,

Leaders of the first among nations,

to whom the people of Israel turn.

4 Those who lie on beds of ivory,

and lounge upon their couches;

Eating lambs taken from the flock,

and calves from the stall;

5 Who improvise to the music of the harp,

composing on musical instruments like David,

6 Who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the best oils,

but are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph;

7 Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,

and the carousing of those who lounged shall cease.

RESPONSE

Psalm 146:1b

1 Hallelujah!

PSALM

Psalm 146:7–10

7 secures justice for the oppressed,

who gives bread to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free;

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind.

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;

the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD protects the resident alien,

comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,

but thwarts the way of the wicked.

10 The LORD shall reign forever,

your God, Zion, through all generations!

Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

1 Timothy 6:11–16

11 But you, man of God, avoid all this.

Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

12 Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13 I charge [you] before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, 14 to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see.

To him be honor and eternal power.

Amen.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION