Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the second week of Lent, March 5th, 2026

Delivered by Randy from the Parish of Christ the King in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Jeremiah 17: 5-10; Rs psalam 1: 1-2.3.4.6; Luke 16: 19-31.RELYING ON GODTHROUGH MAN Our meditation today is entitled: Relying on GodThrough Man. The famous story of Lazarus and the anonymous rich man shouldbecome an interesting catechesis for us. This story can be used to enrich thecontent of the teaching about relying completely on God on the one hand, andexpecting the goodness or help from fellow human beings where God's love isobtained.  Lazarus was so unfortunate with very limitedpossibilities to continue his life in the world. According to our standard offaith, God should have used the rich man to help Lazarus, but that was not thecase. The prophet Isaiah in the first reading reminds  believers to rely on God for their survival.Lazarus and all of us desperately need God's intervention for our survival.What is not appropriate is that when a person was distress and hopeless, he didnot remember and did not even need God.  Lazarus and many others of the similar situation havealways been in this world. They live with other people who are more fortunateor who have everthing for their lives. The evangelist Mark says in this way,"The poor are always with you" (Mk 14:3). Let us for example see somethingconcrete and actual in a local parish. This community of faith always has thecategory of people who are so poor in everything. The Church then has aministry to give attention to them that they may be able to exist and work inlife. Collections and donations made in the parish, one of its uses iscertainly for this purpose. This illustration is enough to explain that thisgroup of “Lazarus” type relies on God through their fellow human beings in acommunity of faith. However, everything is not always smooth and becomesan adequate act of service. The point is that the group of people like Lazarusdid not necessarily get what they needed. God's intervention perhaps not beingcarried out properly through fellow human beings who are more fortunate intheir lives. Jesus makes it very clear that the the people like Lazarus were indire need of help. The situation becomes worse when people who can contributeand help, yet they are not able to be an extension of God's hand to helpLazarus and those of the same fate. That's what Jesus really emphasizes. This unwillingness to help is a sin of negligence thatmust not occur in the life of the Church, community, and people of faith. Thosewho are unwilling to help are the ones contrary to the expression of our themetoday: "relying on God through man." The consequence is obvious, aswe have just heard from the Gospel reading of today.Letus pray. In the name of the Father... O most loving Jesus, make us always awareof our duty as Your true followers, which is to help our neighbors in need.Hail Mary, full of grace... In the name of the Father ...