Daily Readings - Sun Feb 17 2019
Jeremiah
5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
1 Corinthians
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Luke
17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers 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.