In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“If we considered it more carefully, we should have to declare that our whole life is enclosed and established in the bosom of the mercy of God.” (AE 12:320). In his comments on Psalm 51, Martin Luther taught that the whole Christian life is one of begging for God's mercy. He says also, “It is a real theological virtue to cover our sin with prayer this way, and when we feel our weakness, to take refuge in this song: 'Have mercy on me, O God.'”
In today's gospel lesson, we heard about two men, a beggar named Lazarus and an unnamed rich man. The rich man feasted sumptuously everyday and was bedecked with the finest clothing money could buy. Meanwhile, Lazarus lay at his gate and begged for scraps, even to the desperation of hoping for the bits only fit for dogs. He was covered in sores, and only the dogs came to his aid. In the end, both men died and reached their final ends. Lazarus was carried by the angels into heaven, where he rested at the bosom of Abraham. On the other hand, the rich man was buried, and he came into eternal torment.
