The First Sunday after Trinity - Rich Man and Lazarus -

 

Many New Testament references to Justification by Faith are connected with Abraham, the Father of Faith.

Hymn #262                 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1. A mighty Fortress is our God,
A trusty Shield and Weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That hath us now o'ertaken.
The old evil Foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On Earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there's none other God;
He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill,
They shall not overpower us.
This world's prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none,
He's judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain
Nor any thanks have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone,
They yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom our remaineth.

Hymn #262
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 46

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

O Lord, I have trusted in Thy mercy: 

my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.

I will sing unto the Lord: 

because He hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm. How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord? 

How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do nothing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee both in will and deed; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual    

Gradual

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: 

heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.

V. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: 

the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Give ear to my words, O Lord: consider my meditation. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #429              Lord, Thee I Love   - Winkworth translation

             Rich Man Poor Man

The Communion Hymn #342  Chief of Sinners

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #658             Onward Christian Soldiers          

Prayers and Announcements         

• Those continuing in treatment and therapy - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris,  Dr. Cruz Family, Sarah Buck.
• Augsburg Confession, June 25th. Jayz birthday!
• Pray for wisdom and justice for our Constitutional Republic.

First Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

This is a parable, a short story with a theme and very few words. It is meant to be universal in its message, so people can understand it anywhere. "Certain" means one of many - so many boast about what they have accumulated or inherited. 

• He was rich;
• He was dressed in expensive colors and linen (Lydia sold purple and supported the apostles, Acts 16:14,
• He was a daily communicant at the all you can eat food table.

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

Lazarus had a name - every soul has a name - should, but he was just dropped off there, ignored by everyone, full of sores as many disabled people are, even in medical facilities today. Lazarus longed for some food from the rich man's table, but the scavenger dogs came to the poor man and licked his wounds. To show how sensitive dogs can be, Charlie Sue caused a tiny drop of blood on my arm, playing with me outdoors. She immediately shied away from it and pretended it was not there. The next day she went to that micro-mini sore and saw the tiny scab, licking it with great care.

Also see Romans 4 - Justification by Faith, which leads into Romans 5:12.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

I see students writing about Abraham, year around. I point out Genesis16 and many other places throughout the entire Bible because he is the center of all earthly accomplishments. Both men die - the rich man was buried but the beggar was carried to be close to Abraham. Lazarus is in heaven and the rich man is in Hell, in torments. 

What matters at the end of life?

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

The rich man is the bargaining type. He could use some trade-offs, even the tiniest amounts on the tip of his finger. But nothing will help at this point. Abraham calls the rich man "Son", but there are two sides - the luxuries and comfort versus Lazarus the evil things of life.

What matters? The estate drones were meeting with my mother for many years (no dice), for dear old Augustana, which was once a Lutheran Christian college where worship began daily on weekdays. Their latest DEI college president is the complete opposite. Oh! the money dragged out of business people - and for what? Today marks the Augsburg Confession, and that still is the Latin name for Augsburg.

Raising money on a massive scale has generated many pretty buildings - look at the WELS, LCMS, and ELS Schwan songs. They built enough shrines to find out how expensive the aging Schwan will become, as students disappear as fast as the Augsburg Confession.

The issue is Faith, not after-faith.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

There goes the DEI Endowment Fund and everything else that people loved.