Reading 1 Jer 17:5-10
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
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.
Verse Before the Gospel See Lk 8:15
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heartand yield a harvest through perseverance.
Gospel Lk 16:19-31
“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.’”
FASTING AND LISTENING
"…they will not be convinced…" –Luke 16:31
During the 19th century, the rich in England were said to have not wanted to be Catholic because then they would have to "worship with the help," that is, the servants, since the Catholic faith was open to all, both rich and poor. On this topic, St. Paul corrected the Corinthians, for in their very early Christian "meetings," the rich ate plentifully while the poor went hungry (see 1 Cor 11:17ff). The early Church focused on being "mindful of the poor" (Gal 2:10). When the widows complained, the apostles prayed over and imposed hands on seven men chosen to oversee the just, daily distribution of food (see Acts 6:1-6).
As we read last Sunday, Jesus conversed with Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration, and it was a conversation in which all three members had done a forty-day fast (Mt 4:2; Ex 34:28; 1 Kgs 19:8). If the living brothers of the rich man would not listen to Moses and the prophets (represented by Elijah), who had fasted for forty days, then they wouldn't listen to a person who rose from the dead, that is, Jesus, who had fasted for forty days (see Lk 16:31). One of the effects of fasting is to bring solidarity with the poor, who also often miss meals for financial reasons. Another effect of fasting is to become one with the Lord. One who fasts empties himself or herself of the things of the world, such as food, to be filled with God.
People who wish to be separated from the poor are in great danger of wishing to be separated from the Lord. There is such a place reserved for people who refuse to listen to the Lord. It's called hell. Therefore, start fasting, so as to hear the Lord and serve the poor.
| PRAYER: | "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord" (Jer 17:7). |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord watches over the way of the just."–Ps 1:6 |
| PRAISE: | Peter volunteers at a supper-time soup kitchen to serve Jesus in the poor (see Mt 25:40). |
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