*** 1st Reading ***

Jeremiah 17: 5-10

 This is what Yahweh says,

“Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from Yahweh!

He is like a bunch of thistles in dry land, in parched desert places, in a salt land where no one lives and who never finds happiness.  Blessed is the man who puts his trust in Yahweh and whose confidence is in him!

 He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots towards the stream. He has no fear when the heat comes, his leaves are always green; the year of drought is no problem and he can always bear fruit.  Most deceitful is the heart. What is there within man, who can understand him?  I, Yahweh, search the heart and penetrate the mind. I reward each one according to his ways and the fruit of his deeds.

 

Ps 1: 1-4 & 6

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. 

 

**** Gospel ****

Luke 16: 19-31

 Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day.  At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores,   who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores.  It happened that the poor man died and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.   From hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest.

 He called out: ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus with the tip of his finger dipped in water to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire.’

Abraham replied: ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort and you are in agony. But that is not all. Between your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one can cross over from here to you or from your side to us.’

 The rich man implored once more: ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father’s house where my five brothers live. Let him warn them so that they may not end up in this place of torment.’ Abraham replied: ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ But the rich man said: ‘No, Father Abraham. But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Abraham said: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be con­vinced even if someone rises from the grave.’”

 

Gospel Reflection

The story of Lazarus and the rich man gives us a glimpse of what it means to attain fullness of life and is at the same time a call for conversion. Pope Francis once said that the person of Lazarus teaches us that other persons are a gift. In the world that is very much used to set aside others especially the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, the story encourages us to meet and welcome them with love and compassion. They are also children of our God that deserve our acceptance, respect and love.

Let us not be like the rich man who was so blind to see Lazarus as his own brother. He was blinded by the glamour and pride of wealth. In effect, he was so comfortable with his condition and became indifferent towards Lazarus’ situation. In this Lenten season, let us be reminded of the need for renewal in our relationship with one another. May we break whatever blocks us to meet and welcome our needy brothers and sisters. May we encounter Christ by serving them so that with them, all of us may share the joy of the coming Easter.