Daily Readings - Thu Feb 29 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of trust and the consequences of our choices in life. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a stark contrast between those who trust in human strength and those who place their trust in God. The prophet describes the former as a withered tree in the desert, unable to bear fruit, while the latter is a tree planted by the waters, flourishing even in times of drought. This imagery underscores the idea that true strength and security come not from human efforts or wealth, but from a deep reliance on God. Jeremiah also reminds us that the human heart is complex and prone to sin, but God, who sees and tests the heart, will judge each person according to their ways.
The Gospel parable from Luke further elaborates on this theme. The rich man, who lived a life of luxury while ignoring the suffering of Lazarus at his gate, finds himself in torment after death. Lazarus, the poor and neglected man, is instead comforted in the bosom of Abraham. This parable is not merely a warning about wealth but a call to recognize the moral responsibility that comes with it. The rich man’s sin was not his wealth itself, but his failure to see Lazarus as a brother worthy of dignity and compassion. When he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, Abraham’s response highlights the importance of heeding the Word of God and the moral law written on the human heart. If we fail to listen to God’s voice in Scripture and in the needs of others, even the most dramatic interventions will not lead to repentance.
These readings challenge us to examine where we place our trust and how we treat those around us. Do we trust in material security, or do we rely on God’s providence? Do we see the poor and the marginalized as reflections of Christ, or do we ignore their suffering? The moral lesson is clear: our relationship with God is revealed in our relationship with others. If we want to bear fruit in our lives, we must root ourselves in God’s love and allow that love to flow outward in acts of mercy and justice. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God above all else and to see Christ in the faces of those most in need.