Daily Mass Readings – Thursday, 16 March 2028

5 Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited.

7 Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.

8 And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit.

9 The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can know it?

10 I am the Lord who search the heart and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.

R. (40:5a) Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord.

1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

R. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord.

3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

R. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord.

4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

R. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord.

15 Blessed are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day.

20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,

21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell.

23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:

24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.

25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.

26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither.

27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren,

28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.

29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.

31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

Scripture places two kinds of life before us. One is rooted in the Lord, like a tree beside running water: it can endure heat, remain green, and bear fruit in its proper season. The other trusts in what is passing and becomes like dust carried by the wind. The rich man’s tragedy was not simply that he possessed wealth, but that his heart had become closed to the suffering at his own gate. Lazarus was near enough to see, yet compassion never moved him to act.

The word of God had already been given through Moses and the prophets. Abraham’s answer makes clear that conversion does not depend on some extraordinary sign; it begins by hearing what God has spoken and keeping it with a good heart. The Lord searches the heart, and our lives reveal what we truly trust. Today, the person in need may stand before us in a way that asks for attention, generosity, or simple human dignity. Trusting God means allowing his word to take root so deeply that it bears visible fruit in mercy. A heart nourished by the Lord cannot remain indifferent forever.

Lord God, root my heart in you, like a tree beside living waters. Keep me from placing my security in wealth, comfort, or human approval. Give me ears to hear your word and the humility to obey it before I demand greater signs. Open my eyes to the Lazaruses at my gate, and teach me to respond with compassion, generosity, and respect. When life becomes difficult, preserve me from fear and dryness; when I receive abundance, preserve me from indifference. May your word bear patient fruit in my choices and draw my heart nearer to your mercy. Amen.