February 29, 2024 2nd week Lent
Today’s first reading is from Jeremiah, telling us that if you turn from the Lord, you will be like the barren bush in the desert, but if you hope in the Lord, you will be like the trees near flowing waters. The end of the passage talks about your deeds, “To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.” The Lord does know the good and bad you do, generous, but also forgiving. In the gospel, Jesus tells the Pharisees the story of Lazarus and the rich man. When both die, Lazarus is in heaven and the rich man is burning in hell. The rich man asks for water on his tongue. Then he asks for warning to his brothers so that they will not perish. Jesus says if they won’t realize it through the prophets and Moses, they won’t even realize it if someone were to rise from the dead. He is foreshadowing his own death to the Pharisees. I pray that I am one day in heaven! Amen!