Beggars at the Gate


Gate Pa –  28th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year C -2019
 Readings:
Psalm                         Psalm: 91:1-6, 14-16                     
First Reading              Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15    
Second Reading         1 Timothy 6:6-19       
Gospel                         Luke 16:19-31                                      

What I want to say:
Explore this story out of my experience in America
What I want to happen:
•          What are the “gates” that separate us from those in more need around us?
•          Who is at our gate, and how are we seeing and responding to them?

The Sermon

       1.      Introduction:

Woman in Chicago who asked for and took money
-          felt annoyed, little violated
-          trust damaged
Many other beggars on streets
-          a lot ex vets
-          gave nothing
o   > that woman got your money
o   > stories like this playing in the background

       2.      The Story

This is a hard story
seems pretty clear
although lot people tried make it about heaven
-          what need to do get into heaven and avoid hell
o   not heaven
o   nor hell – Greek concept of Hades – world of all dead
-          others tried use it and others like it pacify poor multitude –
o   you’ll get your reward in heaven
o   be patient
This is part series teaching where Jesus offers significant advice to men of wealth and power
       è how to live law and commandments
-          they should not take the VIP seats at feasts (Luke 14:7);
-          they should invite the poor, dis-eased, and marginalized to their lavish feasts rather than their elite friends and family and folks who can return the invitation (14:21-24);
-          consider selling all their possessions and redistribute the proceeds to the poor (18:18-25);
-          be commended for giving half their possessions to the poor and making restitution to those they defrauded (19:1-10);
-          and he shames the rich who contribute gifts to the Temple from their wealth, while a poor widow gives her; she sacrificed (too) much and they gifted relatively little[1]
invitation to all hearers, including us
-          see people around us from perspective of logic of God
-          perspective of law of Moses and prophets
-          especially Jesus is concerned with the poor, sick, and marginalized
-          (cf middle class politicians like to focus on)
what does this look like today
want to tell 3 stories

       3.      3 stories

       a.      Franciscan always has $20 in pocket
       b.      Bishop David Rice and his yellow bags
-          like this idea
-          terrifies me at same time
c   where are our gates?
       è story of Jack?Wayne

       4.      Conclusion

what do WE do with this
•          What are the “gates” that separate us from those in more need around us?
•          Who is at our gate, and how are we seeing and responding to them?
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4167

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