Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Saint Casimir
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Casimir
Readings for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jer 17:5-10
This passage from Jeremiah is part of the wisdom sayings (Sapiential Sayings). The first uses opposition or comparison imagery to demonstrate that the wise person trusts in God while the foolish one trusts in his own strength or the help of others. The psalm below borrowed this imagery to portray the true heart of faithfulness.
The second saying describes the root of evil, the human heart whose secret plotting is transparent to God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
This wisdom psalm follows the same theme as that expressed in Jeremiah (above). The focus is to look to God for guidance and not to trust only in the counsel of men.
Psalm 1 serves as a preface to the whole book of the psalms. The psalmist here exalts those who follow the Lord’s commands and reflects upon the blessings they will receive. As is usual, this selection emphasizes the contrast between the salvation of the just and the punishment of the wicked, a reference to the covenant relationship sealed by sacrificial ritual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: 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.’“
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 16:19-31
The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (some ancient texts name him "Nineveh") is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus addresses this story to the Pharisees who were known to be fond of money. In this context we need to understand that all Jewish land owners were considered to be tenants of Yahweh, the landowner, and owed a tax to God’s representatives, the poor.
The rich man’s great sin was ignoring the suffering of Lazarus and when they both had passed from this life to the next, the rich man suffering torment begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. The “punch line” that follows must have been especially harsh for the Pharisaic audience - 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" This last statement, of course, is also alluding to his own rejection by the scribes and Pharisees even after his own resurrection.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We continue today contrasting the faithful Catholic Christian with others who may be moral persons but not Christian. Beginning with our Hebrew roots we look first at what the Prophet Jeremiah is saying. He points to those who trust only in themselves to accomplish their goals. He tells us that those who trust only in their own strength, even if they appear to succeed will have an empty victory. We think fleetingly of the character of Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol”. How empty was his life, even for all his business success, until he embraced Christ in his nativity?
Not only will the victories won by such people seem hollow, even to those who win them, but what have they won? They have material gain that, as the saying goes “You can’t take it with you.” Contrast that attitude with the Christian who trusts in the Lord to be a constant presence and support. The Christians motto in the same circumstances will be borrowed from St. Ignatius of Loyola who said “Work as if it is all up to you, but pray as if it’s all up to God.” That person, the Christian person wins a victory that is shared; shared not only with friends and family on this earth but with all the saints in heaven for all eternity.
Next we turn our attention to the Gospel which is, not surprisingly, related to the same idea of the definition of value. The moral secular person may indeed be successful. After all, there have always been parallel moral codes that had nothing to do with our faith as far back as the Code of Hammurabi nearly 2,000 years before Christ. Moral codes allow people to live together in harmony but lack that all important faith commitment that gives them peace in their lives and joy in what they accomplish in God’s name.
The rich man (Dives) in the Gospel could easily have been such a person. While presumably Hebrew, since he cried out to Abraham in his distress, he had created for himself, perhaps even unknowingly, a false idol – made of the riches he had been given or had attained. How true are Christ’s words when he said; “You cannot serve God and mammon" just a few verses in front of today’s selection. The Lord in his parable points out that such people may have gained the world but they have given up eternal happiness.
The lesson we take away from scripture today is that we must be very clear about the God we worship. We must understand clearly that all that we accomplish that is good must be credited to our heavenly Father, for without his help our hands would hold nothing but dust.
Pax
Saint Casimir
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Casimir
Readings for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jer 17:5-10
This passage from Jeremiah is part of the wisdom sayings (Sapiential Sayings). The first uses opposition or comparison imagery to demonstrate that the wise person trusts in God while the foolish one trusts in his own strength or the help of others. The psalm below borrowed this imagery to portray the true heart of faithfulness.
The second saying describes the root of evil, the human heart whose secret plotting is transparent to God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
This wisdom psalm follows the same theme as that expressed in Jeremiah (above). The focus is to look to God for guidance and not to trust only in the counsel of men.
Psalm 1 serves as a preface to the whole book of the psalms. The psalmist here exalts those who follow the Lord’s commands and reflects upon the blessings they will receive. As is usual, this selection emphasizes the contrast between the salvation of the just and the punishment of the wicked, a reference to the covenant relationship sealed by sacrificial ritual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: 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.’“
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 16:19-31
The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (some ancient texts name him "Nineveh") is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus addresses this story to the Pharisees who were known to be fond of money. In this context we need to understand that all Jewish land owners were considered to be tenants of Yahweh, the landowner, and owed a tax to God’s representatives, the poor.
The rich man’s great sin was ignoring the suffering of Lazarus and when they both had passed from this life to the next, the rich man suffering torment begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. The “punch line” that follows must have been especially harsh for the Pharisaic audience - 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" This last statement, of course, is also alluding to his own rejection by the scribes and Pharisees even after his own resurrection.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We continue today contrasting the faithful Catholic Christian with others who may be moral persons but not Christian. Beginning with our Hebrew roots we look first at what the Prophet Jeremiah is saying. He points to those who trust only in themselves to accomplish their goals. He tells us that those who trust only in their own strength, even if they appear to succeed will have an empty victory. We think fleetingly of the character of Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol”. How empty was his life, even for all his business success, until he embraced Christ in his nativity?
Not only will the victories won by such people seem hollow, even to those who win them, but what have they won? They have material gain that, as the saying goes “You can’t take it with you.” Contrast that attitude with the Christian who trusts in the Lord to be a constant presence and support. The Christians motto in the same circumstances will be borrowed from St. Ignatius of Loyola who said “Work as if it is all up to you, but pray as if it’s all up to God.” That person, the Christian person wins a victory that is shared; shared not only with friends and family on this earth but with all the saints in heaven for all eternity.
Next we turn our attention to the Gospel which is, not surprisingly, related to the same idea of the definition of value. The moral secular person may indeed be successful. After all, there have always been parallel moral codes that had nothing to do with our faith as far back as the Code of Hammurabi nearly 2,000 years before Christ. Moral codes allow people to live together in harmony but lack that all important faith commitment that gives them peace in their lives and joy in what they accomplish in God’s name.
The rich man (Dives) in the Gospel could easily have been such a person. While presumably Hebrew, since he cried out to Abraham in his distress, he had created for himself, perhaps even unknowingly, a false idol – made of the riches he had been given or had attained. How true are Christ’s words when he said; “You cannot serve God and mammon" just a few verses in front of today’s selection. The Lord in his parable points out that such people may have gained the world but they have given up eternal happiness.
The lesson we take away from scripture today is that we must be very clear about the God we worship. We must understand clearly that all that we accomplish that is good must be credited to our heavenly Father, for without his help our hands would hold nothing but dust.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Dives and Lazarus” (detail) by Bonifacio Veronese, 1540s
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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