Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; Luke 16:19-31
Wealth should not make us indifferent to the plight and dignity of human life. The rich man in today’s gospel reading was condemned because in his riches he was indifferent to the situation of Lazarus. Wealth is not a crime, God wants us to have wealth but he does not want wealth to have us. In our riches we must learn to seek wisdom. We must not trust in riches for they cannot save us. When death comes, money is not an answer. The first reading says “A curse on the man who puts his trust in man and turns from the Lord”. What then is our hope? Today’s Psalm says “Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.” Beloved, trust in God and be happy both now and forever.
LET US PRAY
O God, who delight in innocence and restore it, direct the hearts of your servants to yourself, that, caught up in the fire of your Spirit, we may be found steadfast in faith and effective in works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
