Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 29, 2024

Date:   Thursday of the 2nd Week of Lent

 Scripture Text:  Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, Father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today is drawn from the Gospel of Luke and profoundly illustrates for us Jesus’ teaching that neither wealth nor the lack of it are the measure of an individual. Rather, it is who we are, not what we have. In the parable, Jesus goes on to remind us all of the law and the prophet which proclaim the LORD’s desire for all of us (to love the LORD with all our being and to love one another as we love ourselves). Jesus’ teaching does not replace the law and the prophets but perfects them. Finally, Jesus acknowledges that some are so hardhearted that they will not be persuaded to believe in the LORD and seek to live as the LORD created us to live even when told by one who rises from the dead, alluding to His own death and resurrection.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I recognize the value of all my sisters and brothers in the LORD regardless of their wealth or status? Do I treat all with loving kindness? Do I live my life on earth as if I hope for life in heaven?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten and beloved Son to dwell among us as our brother and to redeem us and to reconcile us to You because we refused to follow the simple law of love You gave to us and we failed to heed your message to us through the prophets. You are love itself and your will for us is that we will love You with all our being and love one another as sisters and brothers, as Your daughters and sons. Send your Spirit to tenderize our hearts so that we might be better able and more willing to set down our desires on earth for the will of our heavenly Father and seek to live as we are created to live and as our Redeemer calls us to live as his disciples. Grant this, we ask, in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.