Daily Readings - Sun Feb 17 2019
Jeremiah
5This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.6He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.7"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.8He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
1 Corinthians
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Luke
17He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,20Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated 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.