I had the privilege this past Sunday (September 25, 2022) to preach at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Lubbock, TX. What do you know about symbols? Listen here and hear about how symbol and trust are present in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: https://fb.watch/fNKiv-kCyo/
My sermon starts at 26:30 and continues until approximately the 39:30 mark.
If you would prefer a text version of the sermon, then you can just keep reading —
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 25, 2022
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Lubbock, Texas
Readings: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31
(Dr. Dann Wigner)
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
[You may be seated.]
I’m so glad to be back here at St. Christopher’s, for those of you who might not remember me, in 2019 my wife Leann, was appointed as the Chaplain at the Canterbury ministry at Texas Tech. Mother Jennifer from here was her mentor for the first year. So, we all were at St. Christopher’s during that year. And, it’s good to see all of you again now.
Today, I’d like to talk to all of you about “symbols.” Now, conventionally, a symbol can be defined as “something which stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract,” but I like how the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart defines symbol, he says: “When the soul wants to experience something she throws out an image in front of her and then steps into it.”
[Let me repeat that]
I lovesymbols, but symbols can be tricky.
For instance,
[example: pull out a dollar bill – “can I get a volunteer preferably one who can read small print” – “please read the small print at the top left of center” – “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private” – thank you, you can keep that]
you see our money has printed on it a reminder of what it is. Money has no inherent value. It is a symbol of the value we place on the “debts” incurred between individuals. It is a “note” that says I. OWE. YOU. for the work you have done. As “notes” like these pass from person to person, they are symbols of the relationship and interdependence we have with each other through our work and provision for each other. You might do a “job” for me, and I give you the dollar. You then need food, for which you depend on another person, so you take the dollar, give it to a person who has food, at the supermarket most likely. Now, they have the dollar, and on and on it goes.
Something so common is a continual symbol of the relationship and interdependence that we all have with each other. Interesting to stop and think about, isn’t it?
Now, let’s look at another symbol – another “material object” standing for something more “abstract,” turn with me in your BCP to page 358.
Do you see the Nicene Creed there? “We believe in one God” etc. and so on. In a few moments, we will read this statement of belief together. It is a symbol – a short recitation of what we claim to believe, to give intellectual assent to – but what if I told you that belief itself – the process or tenets that we give our intellectual assent to symbolizesour faith.
Now, you may think of faith and belief as synonymous, and we often treat the words that way, but the word in Greek for faith is pistis, which more correctly translates into English as trust. It is a relational word. Now, perhaps, we tend to use “trust” as another synonym for “belief,” but trust implies relationship and connection. We have beliefs about things; but we trust inpeople.
And, that is what these various texts today are symbols for us – symbols of trust – rather these stories show us how to make trust into real, tangible action for an invisible, intangible God.
How do we do that?
Well, as we see in Jeremiah, we trust God by trusting other peoplewhen all of the surrounding events of society and politics say that isn’t the smart thing to do.
Jeremiah bought a field in Anathoth – while the Babylonians were at the gate, threatening to take over all the land. Jeremiah might, as I’m sure many of us would, pray to be saved from the coming war. But, God tells Jeremiah to form a relationship with his cousin, Hanamel through purchasing a field – Jeremiah trusted Godwould bring the people of Israel back – and that trust was symbolized NOT in money (that’s a symbol) or in “owning” land (another symbol) BUT in establishing and strengthening the connection between Jeremiah and Hanamel.
So, if you want to trust God in uncertain times, trust another person in a way that shows time will continue on, that there will be a new day, even if the night gets so very dark.
Now, what about Timothy over in the New Testament – we’ve probably heard this passage before, or at least it’s oversimplification that “money is the root of all evil.” But, remember, money is just a symbol; it’s an imaginary indicator of a relationship. Instead, let’s look at the context of these words: these words are part of a letter of Paul. Now, Paul is not writing this letter to a church. He is writing this entire letter as words of advice to his “son” in the faith: Timothy. This letter is the symbol of Paul’s trustin Timothy. He shares his words of advice as a gesture of love because he wants Timothy’s ministry to be successful and long-lasting.
So, if you want to trust God, then look around at those who you have influence with – perhaps a “metaphorical” son or daughter, like Paul did with Timothy. Investing in those people through your advice and help is how you trust God. And, the flip side is true too. Accepting advice, and applying it, is a way to trust another who has been in a situation before you and through trusting another, trusting God.
That leads us to the passage in Luke – one of Jesus’ parables – the rich man and Lazarus. Now, we are used to parables as symbols, but we often treat them as allegories, not parables. In an allegory, we are looking for 1:1 identifications. For instance, who is “Lazarus” in the story? Who does the “rich man” symbolize? Who is “Father Abraham”? But, parables are stories which bear a single, central point. We don’t interpret the individual pieces as symbols by themselves. The whole story is the symbol. And, Jesus, knows that his disciples are slow to catch on, so he tells us the point, right at the end. This time it is right in the words put in the mouth of Father Abraham: “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” But, let’s take a step back…
Remember, money is a symbol. It’s imaginary. The rich man forgot all of his life that all of “his” money was ever, always an implied relationship. He treated it as a “thing” for himself. And, it shows that his own comfort was all he was ever concerned with. We see that, even after death, his first words to Abraham are about his relationship to himself, to the easing of his own suffering. Only when that has been denied, does he get, finallyget what it is all about —
And, he thinks of someone else, his brothers. He doesn’t want them to make the same mistakes he has. He wants to trust them, so he asks forthem. And, Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers won’t believe, even if one were to be raised from the dead.
But, wait…this is a symbol…these words we read are really the words that Jesus’ disciples wrote down (or told to others who could write) – because they changed their lives – they know, like we do, that Jesus is the one raised from the dead, and THEY SAW that some people were still not convinced.
Why?
Because we get stuck in the symbols and forget what they represent.
How do we trust in God? We trust in God by trusting others enoughto want the best for them, even the least of all others. The rich man could have trusted God by trusting Lazarus, the poor beggar, who was real, with what he valued, all – or any – of that imaginarywealth that didn’t help him in the end. We can trust God by looking at all of the others around us, and trusting them – the ones called “the least of these,” to see God in them.
So, we trust God by trusting others – that there will be good times to follow the bad, so call up your “cousin” or whoever has played that role positively for you. How can you trustthat person today?
So, we trust God by trusting others – by giving or listening to advice and applying it, so thank your parents or whoever has played that role positively for you. How can you trustthat person today?
So, we trust God by trusting others – by feeding, clothing, and helping the least of these, so look around you because God is everywhere. How can you trust each person you see today?
Don’t let the symbols get in the way. Along with Meister Eckhart, let your soul walk up to the symbol, tilt your head, smile, and walk right on through.
Amen.