Saturday, October 10, 2015
28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 11, 2015 - 28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Cycle B, Green
Wis 7:7-11 / Heb 4:12 – 13 / Mk 10:17 - 30.
First Reading: Wis 7:7-11
I prayed and understanding was given to me; I asked earnestly and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepters and thrones and I considered wealth as nothing compared with her.
I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value, since gold beside her is nothing but a few grains of sand, and silver but mud. I loved her more than wealth and beauty and even preferred her to light, because her radiance never dies.
She brought with her all other good things, untold riches in her hands.
Second Reading: Heb 4:12 – 13
For the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the intentions and thoughts of the heart. All creation is transparent to Him; everything is uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we render account.
Gospel: Mk 10:17 – 30
Just as Jesus was setting out on his journey again, a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, "Good Master, what must I do to have eternal life?"
Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother." The man replied, "I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood."
Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, "For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me." On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were more astonished than ever and wondered, "Who, then, can be saved?" Jesus looked steadily at them and said, "For humans it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God."
Peter spoke up and said, "We have given up everything to follow you." Jesus answered, "Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time and in the world to come eternal life.
Reflection:
Today's Gospel reading can be likened to a call that never was. All of us want to lead good lives. All of us want to find God's will and to eventually serve him the best way we can.
We can easily understand the young man in today's Gospel reading: He approaches Jesus and asks what he should do to obtain eternal life. Jesus tells him to observe the commandments. The young man claims he has done so from his youth. Here was a good young man wishing to follow Jesus. Jesus looks at him with love: "For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me." On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth. Though with good intentions, the young man could not leave his possessions.
Jesus was straightforward and blunt when he speaks of the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
When we consider the young man being invited by Jesus, we are reminded of Jesus asking his close disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Or, as in the Gospel of John, "Will you also go away?"
What answer will we give to Jesus to these questions? Our answers could depend on many things: our personal relationship with God and our personal commitment to him, our awareness of others and our response to their needs. As Jesus clearly showed in his invitation to the young man, the following of Jesus entails giving up so many things this world of ours values much.
Let us reflect on the story of the young man and Jesus in today's Gospel reading. What is our Lord telling us? What is he asking of us? And how do we respond as the Lord looks at us with love? We pray that the Lord will send his Spirit upon us to help us hear him and listen to him and to enable us to respond with generosity and love,
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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