Thursday of the Second Week

Reflection

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord”.  Jeremiah 17:7

In today’s reading and Gospel, we learn of the power of leaning into and trusting the unending love of our Lord in good times and in bad. We learn of Lazarus and his miserable physical existence in the shadow of the rich man, cloaked in purple and feasting on fine foods, who was blind to the earthly needs of Lazarus. When Lazarus passed, he was “carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham” (Luke 16:22) since his heart was in the hands of God. Lazarus had spiritual wealth. The rich man only took notice of Lazarus when he himself was not carried by the angels upon death.  The rich man was spiritually poor.

To varying degrees, we all have “sores” as Lazarus did. How do we rely on our love of the Lord to carry us through difficult times and situations? How do we rely on the Lord’s love of us to help us to notice our neighbor and their needs? May we turn our suffering to the Lord so that His Grace can fill our hearts and minds.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to trust and lean on the strength of Your love for me. Continue to walk with me and help me to always consider the other, my neighbor, as I follow the path that You have laid out for me.

Dawn Ellinwood, Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Scripture
First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website