Daily Readings - Thu Feb 29 2024
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 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.