February 29, 2024

Jeremiah 17: 5- 10

17:5	Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is a man who trusts in man, and who establishes what is flesh as his right arm, and whose heart withdraws from the Lord.
17:6	For he will be like a saltcedar tree in the desert. And he will not perceive it, when what is good has arrived. Instead, he will live in dryness, in a desert, in a land of salt, which is uninhabitable.
17:7	Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, for the Lord will be his confidence.
17:8	And he will be like a tree planted beside waters, which sends out its roots to moist soil. And it will not fear when the heat arrives. And its leaves will be green. And in the time of drought, it will not be anxious, nor will it cease at any time to bear fruit.
17:9	The heart is depraved above all things, and it is unsearchable, who can know it?
17:10	I am the Lord, who examines the heart and tests the temperament, who gives to each one according to his way and according to the fruit of his own decisions.

Luke 16: 19- 31

16:19	A certain man was wealthy, and he was clothed in purple and in fine linen. And he feasted splendidly every day.
16:20	And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores,
16:21	wanting to be filled with the crumbs which were falling from the wealthy man’s table. But no one gave it to him. And even the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22	Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell.
16:23	Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.
16:24	And crying out, he said: ‘Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to refresh my tongue. For I am tortured in this fire.’
16:25	And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, recall that you received good things in your life, and in comparison, Lazarus received bad things. But now he is consoled, and truly you are tormented.
16:26	And besides all this, between us and you a great chaos has been established, so that those who might want to cross from here to you are not able, nor can someone cross from there to here.’
16:27	And he said: ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
16:28	so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.’
16:29	And Abraham said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
16:30	So he said: ‘No, father Abraham. But if someone were to go to them from the dead, they would repent.’
16:31	But he said to him: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone has resurrected from the dead.’ ”