Daily Readings - Thu Mar 12 2020
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.9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Luke
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Jeremiah contrasts the fate of those who trust in human strength with those who place their trust in God. Jeremiah uses the imagery of a tree to illustrate this: one withers in a barren land, while the other thrives, rooted by water. This reflects a time when Judah faced exile, and Jeremiah urged his people to rely on God rather than human alliances.
The Gospel presents Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man, a stark tale of reversal in the afterlife. The rich man, who ignored Lazarus' suffering, finds himself in torment, while Lazarus is comforted. Jesus emphasizes that those who do not heed the Scriptures will not be swayed, even by resurrection. This parable underscores the importance of responding to God's Word and caring for the marginalized.
Both readings tie together themes of trust in God and responsiveness to His message. Jeremiah highlights individual trust, while Luke's parable addresses societal responsibility. Together, they call us to trust God and act with compassion. In our daily lives, this means relying on God's providence and being attentive to those in need. The moral lesson is clear: our choices have eternal consequences. Let us cultivate faith and compassion, ensuring our actions reflect God's love, leading to a life of true blessing.