Daily Readings - Thu Mar 09 2023
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."9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?10"I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Luke
19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--28for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of trust, compassion, and the ultimate judgment of 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 trust in God. The prophet warns that those who rely on flesh and blood will wither like a tree in a desert, while those who trust in the Lord will flourish like a tree by the waters. This passage reminds us that true security and happiness come not from earthly power or wealth but from a deep relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Luke presents the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a story that challenges us to consider how we treat the most vulnerable among us. The rich man, who lived a life of luxury and ignored the suffering of Lazarus at his gate, finds himself in torment after death, while Lazarus is comforted in the bosom of Abraham. This parable is not just a warning about wealth; it is a call to live with compassion and awareness of the needs of others. The rich man’s tragedy was not his wealth itself but his failure to see Lazarus as a brother worthy of love and dignity.
These readings are deeply connected. Jeremiah’s message about trusting in God is lived out in the way we treat others. To trust in God means to act with mercy, kindness, and justice, especially toward those who are marginalized or overlooked. The rich man’s sin was not just his indifference to Lazarus but his failure to recognize that his wealth was a gift meant to be shared. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God by trusting in His plan of love and compassion? Do we see Christ in the faces of those around us, especially those who are suffering? Let us strive to live in such a way that our faith is not just in our words but in our actions, and that our hearts remain open to the needs of others.