Daily Readings - Thu Mar 21 2019
Jeremiah
5Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is a man who trusts in man, and who establishes what is flesh as his right arm, and whose heart withdraws from the Lord6For he will be like a saltcedar tree in the desert. And he will not perceive it, when what is good has arrived. Instead, he will live in dryness, in a desert, in a land of salt, which is uninhabitable7Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, for the Lord will be his confidence8And he will be like a tree planted beside waters, which sends out its roots to moist soil. And it will not fear when the heat arrives. And its leaves will be green. And in the time of drought, it will not be anxious, nor will it cease at any time to bear fruit9The heart is depraved above all things, and it is unsearchable, who can know it10I am the Lord, who examines the heart and tests the temperament, who gives to each one according to his way and according to the fruit of his own decisions
Luke
19A certain man was wealthy, and he was clothed in purple and in fine linen. And he feasted splendidly every day20And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores21wanting to be filled with the crumbs which were falling from the wealthy man’s table. But no one gave it to him. And even the dogs came and licked his sores22Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell23Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom24And crying out, he said: ‘Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to refresh my tongue. For I am tortured in this fire.25And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, recall that you received good things in your life, and in comparison, Lazarus received bad things. But now he is consoled, and truly you are tormented26And besides all this, between us and you a great chaos has been established, so that those who might want to cross from here to you are not able, nor can someone cross from there to here.27And he said: ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers28so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.29And Abraham said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.30So he said: ‘No, father Abraham. But if someone were to go to them from the dead, they would repent.31But he said to him: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone has resurrected from the dead.’
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on trust and compassion. The first reading from Jeremiah contrasts the fate of those who trust in human strength with those who place their trust in God. The prophet uses the imagery of trees to illustrate this: one withers in barrenness, the other thrives by the waters of divine grace. The second reading, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, vividly portrays the consequences of neglecting the poor and the importance of heeding God’s word.
Jeremiah’s prophecy is set against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of collapse, urging the Israelites to reflect on where their true trust lies. The parable in Luke, part of Jesus’ teachings, emphasizes the reversal of fortunes in the afterlife, highlighting the rich man’s obliviousness to Lazarus’ suffering and the eternal consequences of such indifference. Both readings call us to examine our priorities and actions in light of God’s will.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to cultivate trust in God and to live with compassion. We are challenged to recognize the dignity of every person and to act with justice and mercy. The moral lesson is clear: our actions have eternal consequences, and true faith is demonstrated through love and service to others. As we reflect on these teachings, may we strive to be like the tree planted by living waters, bearing fruit in season and out of season, and may our hearts be transformed by the love of God.