AI Generated image. Looks weird to me!
Greetings on this the Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Luke 16:19-31
Summary
Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance – a quote from the movie Forest Gump.
As we approach Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, (we wear Rose colored clerical stoles, chasubles and dalmatics) it is to remind us that in the midst of the WORK of renewal there is the HOPE ASSURED of Success. Dives (the Rich Man) did not put his trust in the Lord.
Blessed are those who trust in the LORD; the LORD will be their trust (Jer 17:7).
The Work
The Lord knows the difficulty of the work. His entire mission on earth both in Galilee and in Jerusalem was the divine work of reconciliation and restoration. He had the desert experience, the temptations, the abuse, the betrayal and the disregard. He knows also the core problem. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing (MK 10:21).
More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds (Jer 17:9-10).
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Who can understand the heart of the rich man in this parable? How can he live this way and yet we know he isn’t an historical story but rather he is us. Dives is everyone.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side (LK 16:19-23).
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead (LK 16:31).
Building Trust – a two part program
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance (LK 8:15). Blessed are they who hope in the Lord (PS 40:5a).
The first psalm of all the psalms and the first verse of all the psalm verses stands as the trust builder.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night (PS 1:1-2).
We can choose these things and allow the blessed effects happen! Act, Support, Align.
- Do not walk (act) in the counsel of the wicked (wisdom of evil).
- Do not stand with (support) the way of sinners (think of evil).
- Do not sit with (align) in the company of scoffers (faithless).
Focus instead on the holy things.
- Do good.
- Plan good.
- Align with the good.
Everybody gets a second chance.
Personal Reflection
Remember how the Lord saved his people. Remember the 40 years in the desert. Remember the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ). Remember and live.
I led you for forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes did not fall from you in tatters nor your sandals from your feet; [nor did your feet swell these forty years Duet 8:4b] it was not bread that you ate (Manna), nor wine or beer that you drank (water from a stone) —so that you might know that I, the LORD, am your God (Duet 29:4-5).
Trust.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032025.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry