Daily Readings - Thu Mar 01 2018

First Reading - Jeremiah 17.5-10

⁵Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is a man who trusts in man, and who establishes what is flesh as his right arm, and whose heart withdraws from the Lord⁶For he will be like a saltcedar tree in the desert. And he will not perceive it, when what is good has arrived. Instead, he will live in dryness, in a desert, in a land of salt, which is uninhabitable⁷Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, for the Lord will be his confidence⁸And he will be like a tree planted beside waters, which sends out its roots to moist soil. And it will not fear when the heat arrives. And its leaves will be green. And in the time of drought, it will not be anxious, nor will it cease at any time to bear fruit⁹The heart is depraved above all things, and it is unsearchable, who can know it¹⁰I am the Lord, who examines the heart and tests the temperament, who gives to each one according to his way and according to the fruit of his own decisions

Gospel - Luke 16.19-31

Luke

Chapter 16

¹⁹A certain man was wealthy, and he was clothed in purple and in fine linen. And he feasted splendidly every day²⁰And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores²¹wanting to be filled with the crumbs which were falling from the wealthy man’s table. But no one gave it to him. And even the dogs came and licked his sores²²Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell²³Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom²⁴And crying out, he said: ‘Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to refresh my tongue. For I am tortured in this fire.²⁵And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, recall that you received good things in your life, and in comparison, Lazarus received bad things. But now he is consoled, and truly you are tormented²⁶And besides all this, between us and you a great chaos has been established, so that those who might want to cross from here to you are not able, nor can someone cross from there to here.²⁷And he said: ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers²⁸so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.²⁹And Abraham said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.³⁰So he said: ‘No, father Abraham. But if someone were to go to them from the dead, they would repent.³¹But he said to him: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone has resurrected from the dead.’

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of trust, judgment, and the consequences of our choices. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a stark warning about the dangers of placing our trust in human strength and wealth rather than in God. The prophet contrasts the cursed person who relies on flesh and worldly power with the blessed person who trusts in the Lord, likening the latter to a tree planted by water that bears fruit even in times of drought. This image reminds us that true stability and flourishing come from rootedness in God, while reliance on earthly things leads to dryness and barrenness. The Gospel parable of Lazarus and the rich man drives home a similar message, but with a focus on the social dimensions of faith. The rich man, who ignored Lazarus’ suffering at his gate, finds himself in torment after death, while Lazarus is comforted in the bosom of Abraham. This story is not just about wealth and poverty; it is about the failure to see and love as God sees and loves. The rich man’s sin was not merely his wealth, but his indifference to the needs of another human being. His request to warn his brothers is met with Abraham’s reminder that those who do not listen to the Scriptures will not be persuaded even by a miracle. This underscores the importance of living according to God’s word and being attentive to the needs of others. Together, these readings call us to examine where we place our trust and how we live out our faith in daily life. Do we trust in God, or do we rely on our own strength and possessions? Do we see and serve Christ in those around us, especially the marginalized and vulnerable? The moral lesson is clear: faith that does not lead to love and service is empty. Let us strive to be like the tree planted by water, bearing fruit in season and out of season, and let us not be like the rich man, who awoke too late to the reality of his own spiritual poverty. May we turn to God with humble hearts, trusting in His providence and living in a way that reflects His love for all.