Chapter 1: What readings are included in today's Mass?
Thank you for listening to these daily Mass readings. This episode is brought to you by the Mission Circle, a community that helps Catholics understand, live, and share their faith. To become a member, click on the link in the description below. A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah. Thus says the Lord.
Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt. Who can understand it?
I, the Lord, search the mind and test the heart to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Chapter 2: What lessons can we learn from the story of Lazarus?
He is like a tree, planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. the rich man also died and was buried.
And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things.
But now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you the great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.
Chapter 3: How does the Lord guide us through scripture?
And he said, Then I beg you, Father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.
He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. What is the Lord saying to you today through these scriptures? What can you now say to the Lord in response to his word? What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of you today? Spend a few moments in silence, resting in the presence of the Lord.
Nourished by God's word, what is one specific way that you can go forth and make your life a gift for others?
Chapter 4: What reflections should we consider in our daily lives?
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Amen.
Chapter 5: How can we apply God's word to make a difference for others?
Thank you for listening to these daily Mass readings. This episode is brought to you by the Mission Circle, a community that helps Catholics understand, live, and share their faith. To become a member, click on the link in the description below.