Luke 16:19-31

John Bradford, a 16th century official at St. Paul’s cathedral, is supposed to have said, as he saw, from his own prison cell in the Tower of London, a group of prisoners being led off to their executions: “There, but for the Grace of God, goes John Bradford.” That has now morphed into the sometimes-heard phrase, “There, but for the Grace of God, go I,” often uttered when a person sees someone less fortunate than they.

If that’s true – if personal possessions, wealth, and health are truly signs of God’s favor – something is seriously theologically wrong with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. In the end, it seems, the wrong person receives the best blessing.