Thursday March 17, 2022. St. Patrick
Folks will be drinking green beer today, full of bonhomie. Strange juxtaposition with the scriptures for today. Our friend, Jeremiah, warns us not to put our faith in people, for we will be disappointed. Psalm 1 says that only seeking the Lord will result in our prosperity, that the counsel of the wicked and company of the insolent will lead to our destruction. And finally, in Luke’s Gospel Jesus recounts the story of a wealthy man (tradition calls him “Dives”) and Lazarus (the ignored beggar at his door). All of Dives’ wealth could not shield him from final damnation. Fleshly pleasures and faith in people are not the ticket to eternal life. But surely there are people we can trust! Actually, a few weeks before Lent started, one of the Gospels told us that people can be judged (tested) by their fruits. If they seek to destroy, their acts are evil, their words are evil, then they are evil, and should be avoided. If they act generously, speak kindly, build up others, they are good. Finding people who are positive and good to be with and to trust make being good easier. Our parents told us to be choosy about our friends. The nuns said to avoid the occasion of sin. That is good advice. So, seek the wholesome, the positive, those with kind hearts to drink your green beer with today. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Listen to this by Vaughn Williams.