Daily Readings - Thu Mar 20 2025
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 relationship between faith, trust, and how we live out our lives in light of God’s will. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a stark warning: those who trust in human strength and turn away from the Lord are like a barren tree in the desert, unable to bear fruit. Conversely, those who place their trust in God are like a tree planted by water, flourishing even in times of drought. Jeremiah emphasizes that the heart is complex and only God can truly understand it, rewarding each person according to their actions and intentions.
In the Gospel, Luke presents us with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man, consumed by his wealth and luxury, fails to notice Lazarus, the poor beggar at his gate. While Lazarus suffers on earth, he is comforted in the afterlife, while the rich man, who ignored the needs of others, finds himself in torment. This parable is not just a warning about wealth but a call to recognize the dignity of every person and to live with compassion and justice. Abraham’s response to the rich man’s plea makes it clear: our actions in this life have eternal consequences, and ignoring the suffering of others can lead to spiritual poverty.
These readings remind us that true faith is not just about belief but about how we live. To trust in God means to trust in His plan and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The rich man’s sin was not his wealth but his indifference to Lazarus’s suffering. Similarly, we are called to examine our own lives: do we see Christ in those around us, especially in those who are marginalized or forgotten? Let us strive to be like the tree planted by water, rooted in God’s love, and bear fruit by living with compassion, justice, and mercy. May we not be fooled by the comforts of this world but instead fix our eyes on the eternal life that God promises to those who trust in Him.