Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Thursday 2nd week of Lent
March 16, 2006
Thursday 2nd week of Lent - Yr II
JEREMIAH 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.
LUKE 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.'"
REFLECTION
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the poor man gives our Lord's
teaching on the blessedness of the poor in spirit and the danger of
riches. Riches can become the master of humankind. People can be so
absorbed in acquiring wealth that they sacrifice their souls. They are
willing to violate God's commandments to get wealth. Riches tend to
make a person believe that he does not need God, so riches become his
"god."
Jesus calls the poor or poor in spirit "blessed." These poor are those
who lack worldly possessions, who are looked down upon and often
exploited. In their need, they turn to God and put their trust in God,
not in this world. Lazarus belongs to this kind of poor. Lazarus rests
in "Abraham's bosom", is "in consolation" because he trusted in and
depended on God. Lazarus was not rewarded in the next life for merely
being without material possessions. Trust in and dependence on God is a
virtue. It is also understood that the poor man observes God's
commandments according to his circumstances. Our Lord himself in his
description of the Last Judgment promises eternal reward and
blessedness to those who help him in the least of his brothers and
sisters. "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least
brothers of mine, you did for me."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- for the quick recovery / healing of Amalia Lim.
- for the sisterhood and brotherhood love of CFC-SA.
- for the safe travel of Tess Lumbao.
- for the safe travel Isabel & Abigail Malinis to the Philippines.
- for the personal intentions of Archelle
- Birthday: Arnold Cabote on March 22
- Birthday: Fr. Daniel Patrick L. Huang, S.J.
- Birthday: Rudy Sim
- In Memoriam (+): Juanita Lim Pe
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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