Seeing With the eyes of love: what are our lenses?

September 28, 2025 • Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Lessons: Psalm 91 (NRSVUE), Luke 16:19–31 (The Voice)
Alfida Figueroa, Chair, Vision & Ministry Council, COTV, Guest Preacher

[You can view the full worship video recording at: https://youtu.be/Nlm6NdqYICk]

It is difficult to follow four amazing and talented preachers:
K his clever rhymes
Katie with rhythm words
P A eloquent and profound as always
Ashley full of graces

Well, I will do my best, but I will need your assistance.

Opening prayer
Dios de nuestras vidas
Thank you for your words that teach us how to live.
Help us listen with open heart, and see you in every person.
Amen

I will tell you a story in 3 acts like a play.

Act I

The characters are two men.

One is wealthy—dressed in fine linen and purple, to dress in fine linen was symbol wealth, purity, and high status. To dress in purple signifies not just prosperity but also honor, dignity, and even divine favor.

He comes from a large family, he said I have 5 brothers and probably a couple sisters ( we need to remember that women were considered second class citizens, with limited rights. Inferior to men, and treated as a property.

This person eats sumptuously every day. I never before heard the word sumptuously to describe food.- expensive, impressive, magnificent.

The other character, Lazarus, a poor starving beggar covered with sore and lying at the gate of the rich man, hoping for scraps. And dogs come to licks his sores. This act of licking for dogs can be viewed from two different lenses

1- extreme human neglect
2- remarkably act of compassion and affection.

A dog’s licking is a form of communication, connection and healing. Modern science has identified that dog saliva contains peptide antibiotics and other substances that can facilitate healing.

The rich man and Lazarus live are divided by a chasm: privilege and poverty, comfort and suffering, visible and invisible.

The rich man wasn't verbally and physically abused with Lazarus. The rich man dressed in fine linen just didn’t see Lazarus. He could not see Lazarus as a human being, as a child of God.

John 3: 16 said “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son. That whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I believe this verse is the foundation of prevenient Grace. the grace of God acting in us before we are aware of it. This grace is preparing our heart and minds to answer God’s call.

God loves each one of us just because. The rich man missed the opportunity to see God, to know God, because he missed the opportunity to see Lazarus as sacred, as a creation in God's image. As a child of God.

Act II

We don’t know the circumstances, but Lazarus died and so the rich man.

One was sitting next to Abraham, the other one was in a not nice place. The rich man calls out Abraham for a favor. Can Lazarus wet the tip of a finger… and a plea that Lazarus go back and warm my family. The rich man was a religious person, but his spiritual life was disconnected from his social responsibilities. John Wesley said There is no holiness but social holiness.”

Our faith isn’t just personal; it must impact others. Our faith requires community, accountability, works of mercy, interconnection with others in the church, neighborhood, in our workplace, in our family and the world. Our faith must facilitate support for everyone in their basic needs - food, water, air and shelter. Where everyone has access to the essential services: like sanitation, education, healthcare, and public transportation. And also, can receive support in their spiritual need: meaning and purpose, connecting and belonging, inner peace and hope, self-worth and identity, acceptance of death.

We are called to actively work for justice and the common good. To create an ubuntu culture “I am because you are.”

Mathew 25:31-46 “the judgment of the nation”

God said: I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sickly, in prison, a transgender, queer, immigrant, black indigenous, different, able, depressed, mentally ill, in addiction, in recovery…… I was so many others. I tell you, whenever you cared for one of the least of my children, you did for me.”

Act III

Progressive faith isn’t about guilt, shame, or blame, it’s about awareness and actions.

In this parable, Jesus is revealing what happens when comfort dulls our compassion. God always invites us to change—before it’s too late. In other words, God invites us to repent. Not to take a whip hit our body, or our mind….

Repent is a change of heart, mind, and direction. It is to recognize our shortcomings, our mistakes, our past actions and behavior, and the desire to change our ways and become more like Jesus.

We have the power to being fair, impartial, morally right, giving each person what they are due - AKA DO JUSTICE. We just need open hearts and willing hands. Father Richard Rohr, founder of Center of Action and Contemplation, challenges us to develop a balance between action and prayer - two sides of the same coin. Join protests, sign petitions, join march volunteer your time in, but also take time to pray for injustice and circumstances around us to recharge your batteries in God’s presence.

As United Methodists, we pray with open hearts and act with faithful hands—seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

What are your lenses?

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Let our faith be alive with love, our eyes open to grace, and our hands ready to serve.

Amen.

Copyright (c) 2025 - Alfida Figueroa
All rights reserved.