As we journey through the holy season of Lent, the readings for Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam II in Quadragesima (Thursday of the Second Week in Lent) offer a stark contrast between the consequences of trusting in man versus trusting in God. The prophet Jeremiah warns against reliance on human strength, while Our Lord, in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, illustrates the eternal consequences of misplaced trust and hardened hearts.
I. Cursed Is the Man Who Trusts in Flesh (Jeremiah 17:5-10)
The prophet Jeremiah declares:
“Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 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. Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. 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” (Jer. 17:5-8).
This passage sets forth a fundamental principle of the spiritual life: man must place his trust in God rather than in human power or worldly security. The Church Fathers saw in this a warning against both pride and spiritual complacency.
St. Augustine on Trusting in Man
St. Augustine, in his Exposition on the Psalms, warns against placing trust in worldly powers:
“Do not place your hope in man. He is dust, he is smoke, he is a shadow. Trust rather in Him who made heaven and earth, and you shall be firmly established.” (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 61:1)
The man who trusts in the world is likened to a shrub in the desert, dry and fruitless. Without the grace of God, man cannot thrive. St. John Chrysostom explains that “when a man puts his trust in men, he removes himself from God’s providence, and thus, he is left exposed and barren” (Homilies on Jeremiah).
The Heart Is Deceitful (Jer. 17:9-10)
Jeremiah continues:
“The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can know it? 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” (Jer. 17:9-10).
This passage reminds us of the deceitfulness of the human heart. It is not enough to rely on ourselves or our own judgment. As St. Gregory the Great teaches,
“The heart of man is truly deep, for it does not even understand itself. How then shall it direct itself aright, unless the grace of God enlighten it?” (Moralia in Job, 5.67)
During Lent, we are called to scrutinize our hearts and purify our intentions. Do we place our confidence in our own strength, or do we trust in God? Are we more concerned with worldly security, or do we seek the true riches of heaven?
II. The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31): The Ultimate Consequence of Misplaced Trust
The Gospel reading for this day presents one of Christ’s most striking parables:
“There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:19-21).
Here we see a man who placed his trust in the comforts of the world. St. Ambrose observes:
“The rich man is not condemned because of his wealth, but because he did not have charity. He had abundance, yet he neglected the one lying at his door.” (Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam, 8.25)
The contrast between the two men could not be greater. The rich man enjoyed every earthly pleasure, but he was blind to the suffering of his neighbor. Lazarus, though suffering, trusted in God, and upon his death, he was carried to the bosom of Abraham.
The Justice of God in the Afterlife
When the rich man dies, he finds himself in torment:
“And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:23).
St. John Chrysostom warns:
“Do you see how Lazarus receives his reward after his trials? And do you see how the rich man is punished, not because he was rich, but because he was unmerciful?” (Homilies on Luke, 42).
This parable reminds us that our actions in this life have eternal consequences. The rich man, trusting in his wealth, ignored the law of charity. St. Augustine, commenting on this passage, states:
“The bosom of Abraham is the place of rest for those who trust in God, while the fires of hell are for those who trusted in themselves and neglected the poor.” (Sermo 299D)
No Second Chances
The parable ends with a dire warning:
“If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
This is a foreshadowing of Christ’s own resurrection. Even then, many would refuse to believe. St. Cyril of Alexandria remarks:
“The hearts of the unbelieving are harder than stone. Miracles cannot soften them, for they have already chosen their master—Mammon rather than God.” (Commentary on Luke, 111)
III. Lenten Application: A Call to Conversion
The readings today call us to an examination of conscience:
- Where do we place our trust? Do we rely on our own strength, wealth, or status? Or do we truly trust in the providence of God?
- Are we blind to the suffering around us? Do we, like the rich man, neglect the poor and suffering whom God places at our gates?
- Are our hearts hardened? Do we heed the call of Scripture, or do we resist conversion, thinking there will always be time?
Practical Resolutions for Lent
- Almsgiving: Share your blessings with those in need. Do not be like the rich man who ignored Lazarus.
- Prayer and Repentance: Examine your heart daily, asking God to purify your intentions.
- Trust in God: Let go of worldly anxieties and place your confidence in divine providence.
As we continue our Lenten pilgrimage, let us remember the words of St. Basil the Great:
“We must open the gates of our hearts to Christ in the poor, lest we find the gates of heaven closed to us.” (Homilia in Divites, 3)
May this Lent be a time of true conversion, so that, trusting in God and practicing charity, we may one day find ourselves in the bosom of Abraham.