Daily Reflection for Thursday, March 17, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday's readings at this link: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031722.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Responsorial: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead. Luke 16:31
I read a short story recently called “The White Lily” by Jane Tyson Clement. The story describes the life of an old peasant named Ivan. Ivan was caring for an orphan boy and also a dog. The story opens with how miserably Ivan lived. He was not a happy man. He also did not care for anything he owned and struggled with having healthy relationships. The young boy living with him was not very verbal as he was fearful of Ivan. Although Ivan would not physically abuse the boy, he did not give him much attention. He also did a poor job of caring for the pup.
One day Ivan had to go to the village to pick up something from the store. On his route he saw someone who caught his eye. He was a stranger to Ivan and he sensed someone with a warmth in his presence. Ivan could not take his eyes off him. The strange man was carrying a bouquet of beautiful lilies. He gave one to Ivan and told him to take care of it by making sure it was placed in something clean.
So, the story goes that Ivan took it back home and first cleaned the vase that held the lily. Then he cleaned the table on which the vase would be placed. He then cleaned the floor underneath the table, and the story continued that he cleaned the full house and the outdoor yard all in an effort to take care of the lily that radiated such beauty just like the stranger who gave it to him. His relationship improved with the young boy as he helped Ivan take care of the lily and the dog was also receiving attention and care. And while the lily eventually withered away, Ivan was committed to keeping everything clean and maintaining good relationships with everyone in order to keep the lily alive in him always.
This short story in its simplest form brings the Gospel alive today for me. Ivan kept alive the peace he knew long after the death of the lily. This peace transformed the lives of all who knew him even after the lily was gone.
Jesus invites and in many ways warns us in the Gospel today to always hold on to the hope that the resurrection brings and to not let go of it. It is this faith and hope that continues to weave love and peace wherever we go and helps us to care for all around us.
May the peace of the lily bring you much joy today,
Margarita Solis Deal