The "Call" is in the Need

There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, “Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames. Abraham replied, “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.” He said, “Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment. “But Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.” He said, “Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” Then Abraham said, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”

Downtown Eastside Vancouver boasts all the Lazarus’ we need to practice reaching out with the Love of Christ. Daily they sit at our door willing to eat the scraps off our tables.
The problem is that they have become part of the landscape and it is easy to glance at them and either condemn or feel sorry for them and then continue on our merry way. The waste of humanity sickens us or we feel that we don’t know how to help them. Often we feel that they are there because
of their own choices. This in part is usually true. At somepoint the addict chose to take the hit or smoke the joint or rock that put them over the line. But not one of them made that choice believing that they would become addicted. In more than one case, these children of God were injected at an early age by a parent or sibling that
wanted to use the child for their own sick purposes.

Whatever the reasons, the Lazarus’ exist a few blocks or a few miles from where we sit. We don’t have to travel to other countries to find them. What is the responsibility
of the Christ-ones? Do the consequences, in Luke 16:19-31, for allowing the poor to become part of the landscape speak to our hearts? Drug addiction is evil.

The people addicted to drugs are not evil. They are our brothers and sisters. We have only one Father from Whom all life comes. This should call our hearts to action.

What would Jesus do? I do not believe for one moment that Jesus would hand out needles. I do not believe that He would give Methadone or heroine or hand out condoms. what do you think He would do? And what are you willing to do? A wise and wonderful man once said to me “The key ingredient in the Lord’s leading is awareness”.
Love, Vicki

To download the full newsletter Click here to download the PDF