"The Bad Rich Man in Hell" -- by James Tissot |
Thursday
of the Second Week of Lent
FIRST
READING:
Jeremiah 17:
5-10
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.
PSALM:
Psalms 1:
1-4, 6
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.
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.
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.
VERSE
BEFORE THE GOSPEL:
SEE Luke
8: 15
Blessed
are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and
yield a harvest through perseverance.
GOSPEL:
Luke 16:
19-31
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.