Focus
Are you tired? Take this time to rest. Relax every part of yourself. Breathe slower. Be ready for what God has before you today.
Read
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Reflect
The rich man begged for Abraham to send Lazarus back to his family to warn them of their coming torment. He thought that if they see a man risen from the dead, perhaps they would believe and change their ways. Similarly, Luke 11:16 states that just after Jesus cast out a demon from a man, “Others, to test [Jesus], kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.” Jesus was revealing through this parable
that if you do not believe what is written you will no more believe a sign from heaven. In 1 Corinthians 1:22 Paul says, “For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom.” Luke is sharing with this audience, that the preaching of Christ should be enough to turn hearts. The gospel message is what takes hearts of stone and changes them to hearts of flesh.
In the Bible we see people repeatedly ignore signs from God. How do you recognize a sign from God? How has recognizing or ignoring a sign from God made a difference in your life?
Pray
You sent Moses to speak law to the people and bring order to chaos. You sent prophets to speak repentance and bring hope to the hopeless. You sent your son, Jesus, to become your living Word. Open our ears to hear your word, and our hearts to reflect the light of your truth to others, for the sake of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Kace Leetch)
Go with God!
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