Daily Readings - Thu Mar 12 2020
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 messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Jeremiah contrasts the fate of those who trust in human strength with those who place their trust in God. Jeremiah uses the imagery of a tree to illustrate this: one withers in a barren land, while the other thrives, rooted by water. This reflects a time when Judah faced exile, and Jeremiah urged his people to rely on God rather than human alliances.
The Gospel presents Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man, a stark tale of reversal in the afterlife. The rich man, who ignored Lazarus' suffering, finds himself in torment, while Lazarus is comforted. Jesus emphasizes that those who do not heed the Scriptures will not be swayed, even by resurrection. This parable underscores the importance of responding to God's Word and caring for the marginalized.
Both readings tie together themes of trust in God and responsiveness to His message. Jeremiah highlights individual trust, while Luke's parable addresses societal responsibility. Together, they call us to trust God and act with compassion. In our daily lives, this means relying on God's providence and being attentive to those in need. The moral lesson is clear: our choices have eternal consequences. Let us cultivate faith and compassion, ensuring our actions reflect God's love, leading to a life of true blessing.