Reading 1
Jer 17:5-10
Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
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.
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Responsorial PsalmR. (40:5a)
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so, the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Gospel
Lk 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“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.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
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.’”
Meditation: Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who … dined sumptuously each day.” (Luke 16:19)
How rich do you think this fellow was? We might assume that his dire fate resulted simply from an excess of wealth. But Jesus never mentioned how much he had, because that wasn’t actually the issue. The real problem was the gap between the rich man and Lazarus. This fellow had more than enough, yet Lazarus couldn’t even meet his basic needs. The rich man could have done something to help Lazarus, but he didn’t. And that’s why he ended up in “the netherworld” (Luke 16:23).
Many of us live in conditions that the rich man would envy. We’ve grown up in societies where it’s considered normal to have cars, houses, television sets, and food in abundance. Yet not too far away are people who consider themselves lucky to have one meal a day and a shack or tent to sleep in. How do we respond to this staggering inequality?
Today’s reading offers us the chance to examine our attitudes toward wealth and money. Following Jesus’ teaching, the church tells us that money isn’t something that’s exclusively ours to use as we please. Our possessions ultimately come from God, and he wants us to share them with his children, especially if we have more than we need. And sometimes, if the need is great enough, we should share even out of our necessity. Giving to those who are destitute is not just a matter of generosity or charity. It’s a matter of justice. It’s something we owe them because they are our brothers and sisters.
This story tells us that we can bring heaven a little closer to earth, even if it’s for just one person. When we alleviate someone’s suffering, we are helping to make God’s kingdom a reality, right here in the present. We become a sign of the way things will be in heaven, when every tear will be wiped away and everyone will be treated as equals&mash; cherished brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Lord, help me to see the Lazarus at my door&mash;the hungry, the poor, the sick, and the lonely. May I give them not just earthly bread but the bread of your presence as well.”
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