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.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 And 6
R. (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: Psalm 1
“… Like a tree planted near streams of water.” (Psalm 1:3)
Spring may not be here yet, but today is still a good time to think about planting—not flowers and vegetables but yourself. Plant yourself near the river of life, the river that flows from the throne of God (Revelation 22:1). Send roots down deep into the rich soil of faith—soil that will produce life in you.
Do you want to know the best way to do this? Root yourself in the Scriptures. Spend time each day reading and pondering the word of God. Don’t just plow through the words but stop to consider what they mean. Listen for the voice of the Spirit in your heart. Ask him how these words apply to your life. Whenever you feel an inner stirring, stop and pray. Don’t go on until the Spirit has shone his light on them.
What will you hear? Maybe you’ll hear Jesus saying: “Neither do I condemn you” as you ponder past sins or wonder if you’ll ever break free of present ones (John 8:11). Or maybe you’ll hear him say: “Come to me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), and you will know for sure that he is with you in a hard situation. You can be confident that God is speaking if you find yourself filled with a new confidence and hope.
Maybe as you contemplate today’s first reading, you’ll hear him say: “I … alone probe the mind and test the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). You can be sure it’s from the Lord if the words move you to open your heart to Jesus more fully rather than fill you with fear and dread.
The psalmist promises that those who sink their roots into the word of the Lord will bear fruit—and who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t want more peace and patience, faithfulness and self-control, joy and kindness? Who doesn’t want more vitality or divine protection or wisdom or direction for his or her life? These are the blessings for the happy ones who plant themselves in the soil of God’s word!
This is the key to discerning the word of the Lord. It always brings life!
“Holy Spirit, help me settle myself near the river of life. I want to sink my roots deeply into the word of God so that I can bear fruit in his kingdom.”
No comments:
Post a Comment