It’s been a week since our country dimmed Lady Liberty’s lamp and stopped welcoming asylum seekers. Sure, regular immigration continues (for now), but those who are fleeing danger and seeking safety in our country under asylum provisions no longer have recourse in the United States. They can knock at the door – er, the border wall – but no one will answer.
The United States is the most prosperous nation in the world. We have the capacity to welcome new arrivals and provide a basic degree of support for them to settle in this country and begin successful lives here – school, work, integration into a community, and more. We can do this. And we ought. It’s the fulfillment of our greatest ideals and a principal way we demonstrate our commitment to liberty. But we aren’t doing this. We’ve given up. Politics, fear, lies, bigotry – it’s all gotten in the way. We have closed the gate and ignored the plight of those who sit on the outside.
In Luke chapter 16, Jesus tells this story about a rich man who had a gate, keeping it closed and ignoring the needs of those who sat on the other side. And let me tell you, the dude with the gate and the grumpy attitude doesn’t fare well in the story.
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
The rich man dressed extravagantly and ate excessively. He consumed much, built a grand house, and erected a fence around his grand house. Now, there was also a poor man, named Lazarus, who laid at the rich man’s gate, hungry and ill. Lazarus longed to receive even just the scraps and crumbs discarded from the rich man’s table. The rich man gave him none.
There are, of course, details missing. We don’t know how the rich man acquired his wealth. We don’t know if Lazarus appealed to anyone else for mercy. But, running after elusive details feels like a distraction. Jesus gives us all we need to know.
Just a few moments into the story the fates of both men take a sharp turn – they die! We meet them in the afterlife, where their fortunes are reversed. Lazarus is at the bosom of the patriarch Abraham, whereas the rich man is suffering the torment of hell. As if that weren’t clear enough, Abraham explains the situation to the rich man:
25 Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.’
The one who “received good things” in life – and who failed to do good with those good things – is now robbed of his comforts. Lazarus, who received evil things in life – including at the hands of the rich man – is now comforted, relieved of his suffering.
In other words, justice was done.
Take note that it’s not just that the rich man received good things and the poor man Lazarus received bad things. This is not a mere opposition between a good life and a bad life. No. Jesus tells us that Lazarus received “evil” things. Evil. Evil is inflicted. Evil is done, intentionally, to others. Evil isn’t happenstance, bad luck, or the way the cookie crumbles. No. Evil is an intentional choice. Lazarus suffered evil – in part, by the intentional neglect and disregard of the rich man.
The United States is the rich man in this parable. Through both action and omission, we are choosing to inflict evil on our neighbors. It doesn’t need to be this way. We can yet change our rich man fate. We can choose to live with generosity and mercy toward those huddled at our southern gate. We can turn the dimmer up on Lady Liberty’s lamp and extend a radical welcome to our neighbors in need. “Come on in. There’s room, food, safety, work, and opportunity for all!”
Or, we can stay our current course, consuming grotesquely to feed the idols of our own satisfaction while ignoring the plight of our neighbors in need. Such idolatry will lead to our own ruin, as the consequence of our callous actions and the righteous judgment of God come our way. For a nation so turned in on itself will not prosper, but instead will collapse under the weight of its own greed.
May God give our leaders – and, indeed, all of us – new hearts that burn with a desire to love and serve our neighbor … or at least simmer on low heat with some degree of empathy and compassion for those in need. May God give us the will to shine a bright light before the world, and to welcome everyone to our table of plenty.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Bring your justice upon us. Set our hearts – and this world – to rights. Amen.
If you’re looking to learn more about migration in the Americas, and how US policy impacts those who are fleeing harm and persecution in their homes, check out pretty much anything that Adam Isacson writes. He analyzes defense, security, migration, and border issues for the Washington Office on Latin America. His weekly border updates are pure gold.
Other good sources include:
The Lutheran Zephyr 