Daily Readings - Sun Feb 17 2019
Jeremiah
5Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.6He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.7"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.8He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
1 Corinthians
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Luke
17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied."Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.22"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.25"Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry."Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.26"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of trust, hope, and the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a stark contrast between those who trust in human strength and those who place their confidence in the Lord. The prophet uses the imagery of a tree planted by water, which remains fruitful even in times of drought, to describe the person whose heart is rooted in God. This image reminds us that true security and vitality come not from earthly comforts or human alliances but from a deep and abiding trust in the Lord.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the hope of the resurrection. Paul emphasizes that the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith. If Christ has not risen, our faith is in vain, and we are left with nothing but despair. But because Christ has risen, we have hope—not just for eternal life but for the transformative power of God to work in us even now. This hope is not merely wishful thinking but a confident trust that God’s promises are true and that He will bring life out of death, just as He did for Christ.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus’ Beatitudes, which challenge our worldly notions of happiness and success. Jesus pronounces blessings on those who are poor, hungry, and weeping, while He warns those who are comfortable and complacent. This teaching is not about physical poverty or wealth but about the disposition of our hearts. It calls us to recognize that true blessedness comes from dependence on God and a willingness to embrace humility, compassion, and trust in His providence. Like the tree in Jeremiah, we are called to be rooted in God, so that even in times of trial, we can bear fruit and find joy in His presence.
These readings remind us that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal life and transformation God offers. Let us ask ourselves: Where do we place our trust? Are we rooted in God, or are we relying on fleeting earthly securities? Let us embrace the hope of the resurrection and live in a way that reflects the Beatitudes, trusting that God will bring life and fruitfulness even in the most challenging circumstances.