Book of Jeremiah 17,5-10.
Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, But stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit. More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.
Psalms 1,1-2.3.4.6.
Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God's law they study day and night.
They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.
But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind.
The LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 16,19-31.
There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407), Bishop of Antioch then of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
Homily on Lazarus 2,5; PG 48, 988-989 (trans. Friends of Henry Ashworth)
It is worthwhile inquiring why the rich man saw Lazarus in Abraham's arms, and not in the company of some other righteous person. The reason is that Abraham was hospitable, and so the sight of Lazarus with Abraham was meant to reproach the rich man for his own inhospitality. Abraham used to pursue even passers-by and drag them into his home (Gn 18,1f.), whereas the rich man disregarded someone lying in his own doorway. Although he had within his grasp so great a treasure, such an opportunity to win salvation, he ignored the poor man day after day. He could have helped him but he failed to do so.
The patriarch was not like that but just the opposite. He would sit in his doorway and catch all who passed by. And just as a fisherman casting a net into the sea hauls up fish, yes, but also quite often gold and pearls, so Abraham whilst catching people in his net finished by catching angels, though strangely enough without knowing it.
Even Paul marvels at this and gives the advice: "Remember to welcome strangers into your homes, for some by so doing have entertained angels without knowing it," (Heb 13,2). And he did well to say "without knowing it", for if Abraham had welcomed his guests with such kindness because he knew who they were he would have done nothing remarkable. He is praiseworthy only because, without knowing who the passers-by were and taking them to be simply human wayfarers, he yet invited them in with so much good will. And this is true of you also. If you show much eagerness in welcoming some famous and distinguished person you do nothing remarkable... But we do something truly great and admirable when we give a most courteous welcome to all, even the outcasts of society or people of humble condition.
OUR HEART CONDITION
"More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?" –Jeremiah 17:9
We all have learned that many people are not reliable. You can't trust them. We may have even come to the conclusion that we ourselves are not completely trustworthy. However, we probably don't consider ourselves so untrustworthy that we are cursing ourselves if we trust ourselves (see Jer 17:5). We don't think of our hearts as "more tortuous than all else" (Jer 17:9). We don't see our hearts as so twisted and deceitful that they are "beyond remedy" (Jer 17:9). We would be shocked by the words of Abraham that our hearts are so hard that even a man risen from the dead would not faze us (Lk 16:31).
What is the condition of our hearts? We may feel that our hearts are in relatively good condition, but the Lord disagrees. Let's listen to Dr. Jesus (see Mk 2:17). He alone can understand and test the heart (Jer 17:10). He alone is well aware of what is in our hearts (Jn 2:25). Jesus has already given us a new heart in Baptism. Now He will purify our hearts (see Acts 15:9) and make them like His heart (Mt 11:29). Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
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