March 21, 2019 Thursday of the 2nd Week of Lent-C

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Psalm 1

Luke 16:19-31

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.  Jer. 17:7

“And lying at his door was a poor man names Lazarus covered with sores… Lk. 16:20

Lord, Lazarus was on the doorstep of the rich man.   His suffering was obvious to everyone because of his sores.  How many people walked past him every day and looked away.  His very presence must have been annoying to many.   What is wrong with people who ignore the suffering of someone so near?  We still have Lazarus among us today.   I confess to have looked the other way when I have met him.  He is the homeless man living under the bridge.  He is the single mom with 4 kids barely making ends meet.  He is the wife trapped in an abusive relationship.  He is someone in my family, neighborhood or church.  We can fail to see the needs of people right under our noses.  Lord, I know all I have is from you.  I also know you bring people together so they can support each other on our road to eternity.   Jeremiah would say that if we truly trusted and hoped in you we would give more attention to the broken and hurting people around us.  May I say thank you to the janitor, compliment the waitress, visit the lonely, and offer a gift card to the hungry.  Amen.