Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

March 5, 2026

Our readings for today provide two distinct yet similar images of life lived in and outside of Christ.

First, the prophet Jeremiah compares the person who trusts in human beings with the person who trusts in the Lord. Both are found in the same dry desert of this earthly life. The person who trusts in human beings is like a barren bush, shriveled up and disconnected from the source of true life. The one who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside the waters, whose leaves stay green and branches bear fruit despite the heat and drought that surround him. Jeremiah ends with an admonition from our Lord – we will be rewarded “according to the merit of our deeds,” according to the fruit that comes from our connection to the living vine, Jesus.

Our gospel provides another image of life lived in and outside of Christ – the rich man and Lazarus. The characters in this parable are ones of contradiction – Lazarus, who had nothing in his earthly life, received endless heavenly rewards. Meanwhile, the rich man lived a life of luxury here on earth, but in eternal life is deprived of everything. The rich man’s earthly life is sumptuous on the outside but leaves him shriveled up and lifeless on the inside. The sin of the rich man was that he could look at his fellow human being, hungry and in pain, and feel no pang of grief in his heart, no urge to help.

Like the rich man in the gospel, we can pretend not to see the poor and suffering in our own world, but they are outside our door nevertheless. May we use our Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to show our solidarity with them.

Let Us Pray:

Almighty God, we lift up to your mercy all poor and neglected persons: the homeless, the destitute, the old, and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us be your hands and feet, bringing comfort, healing, and hope to those who are broken in body or spirit. May we share our resources, uphold justice, and work to alleviate suffering, so that their sorrow turns to joy. Amen.