Daily Readings - Sun Feb 13 2022
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
In today’s readings, we are presented with powerful messages that guide us in our faith journey. The prophet Jeremiah warns against trusting in human strength, urging us instead to place our confidence in God, who is the source of true life and stability. This is illustrated through the metaphor of a tree planted by water, thriving even in drought, symbolizing the believer who trusts in God. In contrast, those who rely on human efforts are like a barren tree in the desert.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection. Paul asserts that without the resurrection, our faith is in vain. The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our hope, transforming our present sufferings into a pathway to eternal life. This hope is not just for the future but empowers us to live meaningfully now, trusting in God’s plan.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents the Beatitudes, challenging societal norms by blessing the poor, hungry, and mournful. He calls us to embrace humility and compassion, promising eternal rewards for those who follow His teachings. This inversion of values encourages us to live counter-culturally, trusting in God’s promise of ultimate fulfillment.
These readings interconnect by highlighting trust in God as the foundation of a transformed life. Jeremiah’s call to trust, Paul’s hope in resurrection, and Jesus’ Beatitudes all guide us to live with faith and hope. In our daily lives, we are invited to embody these teachings by choosing humility, caring for others, and enduring trials with the hope of eternal life. Let us embrace this call, trusting in God’s plan and living with the hope that only the resurrection brings.