Daily Readings - Thu Mar 09 2023
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
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.