Daily Readings - Thu Feb 29 2024
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 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.