Daily Readings - Thu Mar 09 2023
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."9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?10"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
Luke
19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.23In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'30"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises 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.