Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary:
143
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord,
and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Reading
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Gospel Mk 10:17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter thekingdom
of God
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter thekingdom of God
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter thekingdom of God
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
Or Mk 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter thekingdom
of God
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter thekingdom of God
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter thekingdom of God
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Scripture Study
October 14, 2012
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This week we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth
Sunday of Ordinary Time. We are told of the prayer of Solomon and its results
in the first reading. What could I do that would be better than to follow
Solomon's example of asking God for wisdom? In the second reading, we are
reminded that God's Word to us demands a response. It will not simply go away
and bother someone else. How have I responded or failed to respond to God's
call to me? The Gospel emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God that can
not be won by our own efforts no matter how much wealth, power, or strength we
may have. How have I responded to the good things in my life. Do they fill me
with a sense of my own self importance or do they give rise to profound
gratitude for what God has given me?
NOTES on First Reading
* Wis
This section refers to the story in 1 Kings 3:5-14 and 2 Chronicles 1: 7-12 where God told Solomon to ask for anything he wanted and Solomon chose to ask for wisdom. Scripturally, Wisdom is not mere abstract knowledge or intelligence but practical insight into the will and ways of God. This is the wisdom for which Solomon asks. God granted him his wish and all of the other things that he could have wished for were given to him as well. They followed in the wake of wisdom's arrival.
This section refers to the story in 1 Kings 3:5-14 and 2 Chronicles 1: 7-12 where God told Solomon to ask for anything he wanted and Solomon chose to ask for wisdom. Scripturally, Wisdom is not mere abstract knowledge or intelligence but practical insight into the will and ways of God. This is the wisdom for which Solomon asks. God granted him his wish and all of the other things that he could have wished for were given to him as well. They followed in the wake of wisdom's arrival.
NOTES on Second Reading
* 4:12 Referring to verse 7 it is the
Word that speaks to us and invites us to belief and perseverance. While it is a
saving Word it is also a Word that judges since it condemns those who refuse to
listen. The Word is described in terms that emphasize its effectiveness: It
produces life (Deut 32:47) achieves its purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11) Sharper than
any two edged sword (Isaiah 49:2; Proverbs 5:4; Wisdom 18:16)
* 4:13 There is some debate on the
exact meaning of the last phrase of this verse. It may be taken as "about
whom we are speaking" or "to whom we must render an account".
The latter seems to suit the context better. Another suggestion based on
comparison with John 1:1 is "with whom the Word is present on our
behalf".
NOTES on Gospel:
*
10:17-27 At the time of Christ, wealth was generally considered to be a sign of
favor from God. The words of Jesus in 10: 23-25 were quite a shock to those who
heard them for the first time.
To recreate the People of God a true self-gift to Jesus is needed and to do that we must loosen our grip on everything else including ourselves.
To recreate the People of God a true self-gift to Jesus is needed and to do that we must loosen our grip on everything else including ourselves.
*
10:18 Rabbis and teachers of the day rejected being called good in an absolute
sense since in absolute terms only God is good. This man sees Jesus as a man
only and so should not call Him good.
*
10:20 The man shows himself to be a "good man" who let greatness in
Christ slip by him.
*
10:21 Only Mark has the detail that Jesus "loved him". This fact has
been the reason for the suggestion that the evangelist Mark himself was that
man who had rejected Jesus' invitation at first.
The command to "go...sell..." is usually seen as a special invitation to the rich man and not a general rule for all followers.
The command to "go...sell..." is usually seen as a special invitation to the rich man and not a general rule for all followers.
*
10:23 The rich man's rejection of the invitation was not a special case but is
the general response from those who have wealth to rely upon rather than
relying on God.
*
10:25 The frequently heard explanation that the eye of the needle refers to a
narrow gate into the city robs verse 27 of its power.
*
10:26 "Who then can..." The normal way of thinking would be that if
the rich can't do it then there must be no hope for the poor! In the common
mind-set of the time the rich were seen to posses such advantages as: time to
study the law, opportunities for prayer, and material goods for sacrifice and
alms-giving. The poor were without such opportunities.
*
10:27 This is equally true for both rich and poor. Neither is able to save
himself. It is possible only for God.
* 10:30 But this must not be reason for
giving them up. To give in order to get more is not the motivation Jesus is
advocating.
Meditation: "You will have treasure in
heaven"
What gives hope and satisfaction
to our desire for happiness and security? A young man who had the best the
world could offer – wealth and security – came to Jesus because he lacked one
thing. He wanted the kind of lasting peace and happiness which money could not
buy him. The answer he got, however, was not what he was looking for. He
protested that he kept all the commandments; but Jesus spoke to the trouble in
his heart. One thing kept him from giving himself whole-heartedly to God. While
he lacked nothing in material goods, he was nonetheless possessive of what he
had. He placed his hope and security in what he possessed. So when Jesus
challenged him to make God his one true possession and treasure, he became
dismayed. Why did he go away from Jesus with sadness rather than with joy? His
treasure and his hope for happiness were misplaced. Jesus challenged the young
man because his heart was possessive. He was afraid to give to others for fear
that he would lose what he had gained. He sought happiness and security in what
he possessed rather than in who he could love and serve and give himself in
undivided devotion.Why does Jesus call his disciples to "sell all" for the treasure of his kingdom? Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. The Lord himself is the greatest treasure we can have. Giving up everything else to have the Lord as our treasure is not sorrowful, but the greatest joy. [See Jesus' parable about the treasure hidden in a field in Matthew 13:44.] Selling all that we have could mean many different things – letting go of attachments, friendships, influences, jobs, entertainments, styles of life – really anything that might stand in the way of our loving God first and foremost in our lives and giving him the best we can with our time, resources, gifts, and service.
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find that they cannot outgive God in his generosity towards us. God blesses us with the priceless treasures of his kingdom – freedom from fear and the griping power of sin, selfishness and pride which block his love and grace in our lives; freedom from loneliness, isolation and rejection which keep his children from living together in love, peace, and unity; and freedom from hopelessness, despair, and disillusionment which blind our vision of God's power to heal every hurt, bind every wound, and remove every blemish which mar the image of God within us. God offers us treasure which money cannot buy. He alone can truly satisfy the deepest longing and desires of our heart. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from seeking true joy with Jesus?
Why does Jesus issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well as to the rest of us who desire to be rich)? Was he really against wealth? We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per se, nor was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were well-to-do, including some notorious tax collectors! One even became an apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the teaching of the Old Testament wisdom: Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways (Proverbs 28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist (Proverbs 23:4). Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the largest animal in
"Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and opened to us the treasures of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight and may nothing else keep me from giving you my all."
www.dailyscripture.net
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Hitting the
Spiritual Wall
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Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Father James Swanson, LC Listen to podcast version here. As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ´You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.´" He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the 3. But He Can’t Step Up: The man is doing everything that his Jewish faith requires and still he wants to do more for God. He has never refused God anything. Jesus sees he is ready for the next step. He calls him to be an apostle. He calls him to give up everything else in his life and follow him. You would think that since he has never denied God anything, he would be able to say “yes” to this. But he cannot. It is too much. Although he doesn’t realize it, there are things he possesses that he loves more than God. Sometimes we progress in our spiritual life, giving everything that God asks for, until the day he asks for something we aren’t prepared to give. Our spiritual life stalls -- sometimes for years -- until we are willing to give what Jesus asks for. Christ calls all people to perfection, to place God above all things. He promises that if we give up our own selves to follow him, he will fill our lives with himself. |
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 14
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MARK 10:17-30
(Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90; Hebrews 4:12-13)
KEY VERSE: "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven" (v 21).
READING kingdom of God
REFLECTING: What do I do to help the poor?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous with the gifts you have given to me.
www.daily-word-of-life.comTWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MARK 10:17-30
(Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90; Hebrews 4:12-13)
KEY VERSE: "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven" (v 21).
REFLECTING: What do I do to help the poor?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous with the gifts you have given to me.
Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!.
Let us rely on God and not on our possessions.
These words summarise the essential message of today’s gospel reading.
Jesus responded to the young man: ‘No one is good but God alone.’ God the Father was always at the centre of the life and work of Jesus, the focus of his prayer life. Jesus drew strength from his Father’s love, as indeed we should.
Jesus responded positively to the young man’s proclamation of having kept the commandments by ‘looking steadily at him and loving him’. The young man could not respond positively to Jesus’ request to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. Jesus astounded the disciples by telling them how hard it is to enter the kingdom of heaven. He left us with the words, ‘Everything is possible for God.’
Lord, we pray for the grace to seek the kingdom of your Father.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
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Living
Faith
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Come, Holy Spirit, into our lives. Fill our
hearts with the joy that belongs to your very being. Teach us to sing the
blessings you have offered us throughout our lives. Focus our eyes on Jesus
from whom every saving grace comes. Move us from a fatigued faith to a living
faith.
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October 14
St. Callistus I
(d. 223?)
St. Callistus I
(d. 223?)
The most reliable information about
this saint comes from his enemy St. Hippolytus, an early antipope, later a
martyr for the Church. A negative principle is used: If some worse things had
happened, Hippolytus would surely have mentioned them.
Callistus
was a slave in the imperial Roman household. Put in charge of the bank by his
master, he lost the money deposited, fled and was caught. After serving time
for a while, he was released to make some attempt to recover the money.
Apparently he carried his zeal too far, being arrested for brawling in a Jewish
synagogue. This time he was condemned to work in the mines of After winning his freedom, Callistus was made superintendent of the public Christian burial ground in
He was elected pope by a majority vote of the clergy and laity of
Hippolytus is venerated as a saint. He was banished during the persecution of 235 and was reconciled to the Church. He died from his sufferings in
Callistus was martyred during a local disturbance in Trastevere,
Comment:
The life of this man is another reminder that the course of Church history, like that of true love, never did run smooth. The Church had to (and still must) go through the agonizing struggle to state the mysteries of the faith in language that, at the very least, sets up definite barriers to error. On the disciplinary side, the Church had to preserve the mercy of Christ against rigorism while still upholding the gospel ideal of radical conversion and self-discipline. Every pope—indeed every Christian—must walk the difficult path between "reasonable" indulgence and "reasonable" rigorism.
The life of this man is another reminder that the course of Church history, like that of true love, never did run smooth. The Church had to (and still must) go through the agonizing struggle to state the mysteries of the faith in language that, at the very least, sets up definite barriers to error. On the disciplinary side, the Church had to preserve the mercy of Christ against rigorism while still upholding the gospel ideal of radical conversion and self-discipline. Every pope—indeed every Christian—must walk the difficult path between "reasonable" indulgence and "reasonable" rigorism.
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| Statue of Pope Callixtus I, Cathedral of Reims |
Quote:
His contemporaries, Jesus said, were "like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John [the Baptist] came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Matthew 11:16b-19a).
His contemporaries, Jesus said, were "like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John [the Baptist] came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Matthew 11:16b-19a).
LECTIO: 28TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
(B)
Lectio:
Sunday, October 14,
2012
Jesus calls the rich
young man
The hundredfold in this life, but with persecutions!
Mark 10:17-30
The hundredfold in this life, but with persecutions!
Mark 10:17-30
1.
Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the
reading:
• The Gospel of the 28th Sunday of ordinary time tells the
story of a young man who asks Jesus for the way to eternal life. Jesus gives
him an answer, but the young man cannot accept it because he is very rich.
Wealth gives a kind of security to people and they have difficulty in giving up
such security. Because such people are attached to the advantages that their
possessions bring, they worry about defending their interests. The poor person
does not have such worries and thus is freer. But there are poor people with a
rich mentality. They are poor, but not “poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3). Not just
wealth, but also the desire for wealth, can change people and make them slaves
to the goods of this world. Such people would find it difficult to accept
Jesus’ invitation: “Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mk 10:21) Such
persons will not take the step suggested by Jesus. Am I able to leave
everything for the Kingdom?
• In our text, several
persons seek Jesus to ask him for advice: the rich young man, the disciples and
Peter. In our reading let us look at the preoccupations of each of these
persons and to Jesus’ reply to them.
b) A division of the
text to help with the reading:
Mark 10:17: The
request of the one who wishes to follow Jesus
Mark 10:18-19: Jesus’ surprising and demanding reply
Mark 10:20-21: The conversation between Jesus and the young man
Mark 10:22: The young man is alarmed and will not follow Jesus
Mark 10:23-27: The conversation between Jesus and his disciples concerning the rich entering the Kingdom
Mark 10:28: Peter’s question
Mark 10:29-30: Jesus’ reply
Mark 10:18-19: Jesus’ surprising and demanding reply
Mark 10:20-21: The conversation between Jesus and the young man
Mark 10:22: The young man is alarmed and will not follow Jesus
Mark 10:23-27: The conversation between Jesus and his disciples concerning the rich entering the Kingdom
Mark 10:28: Peter’s question
Mark 10:29-30: Jesus’ reply
c) Text:
17 He was setting out
on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him,
'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 18 Jesus said to him,
'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the
commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not
steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your
father and mother.'
20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.' 21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' 22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter thekingdom
of God kingdom
of God kingdom of God
20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.' 21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' 22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the
3. A moment of
prayerful silence
so that the Word of
God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our
personal reflection.
a) What touched you
most in this text? Why?
b) What worried the young man and what deceived him?
c) What does the following mean for us today: “Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor”? Can we take this literally?
d) How do we understand the comparison between the needle and the camel?
e) How do we understand the hundredfold in this life, but with persecutions?
f) How do we understand and practise today the suggestions made by Jesus to the rich young man?
b) What worried the young man and what deceived him?
c) What does the following mean for us today: “Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor”? Can we take this literally?
d) How do we understand the comparison between the needle and the camel?
e) How do we understand the hundredfold in this life, but with persecutions?
f) How do we understand and practise today the suggestions made by Jesus to the rich young man?
5. For those who wish
to go deeper into the theme
a) The context of
yesterday and of today.
* This Sunday’s Gospel
describes the on-going conversion that, according to Jesus’ invitation, must
take place in our relationship with material goods. So as to understand fully
the importance of Jesus’ instructions, it is good to remember the wider context
in which Mark places these texts. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem
* Jesus’ suggestions are valid for all times, both for Jesus’ times and Mark’s times as well as for today in the 21st century. They are like mirrors that mirror back what is really important in life, yesterday and today: to start again, from the beginning, the building of the Kingdom, renewing human relationships on all levels, among ourselves and with God, as well as with material goods.
* Jesus’ suggestions are valid for all times, both for Jesus’ times and Mark’s times as well as for today in the 21st century. They are like mirrors that mirror back what is really important in life, yesterday and today: to start again, from the beginning, the building of the Kingdom, renewing human relationships on all levels, among ourselves and with God, as well as with material goods.
b) A commentary on the
text:
Mark 10:17-19: The commandments and eternal life
Someone comes and asks: “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Matthew’s Gospel says that it was a young man (Mt 19:20.22). Jesus replies rather harshly: “Why do you call me good. No one is good but God alone!” Jesus deflects attention from himself to God, since he wishes to do the Father’s will, so as to reveal the Father’s plan. Then Jesus says: “You know the commandments: you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false witness, honour your father and mother”. The young man had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. He wanted to live close to God! But Jesus only reminds him of the commandments that concern to life close to the neighbour! He does not mention the first three commandments that talk of the relationship with God! For Jesus, we can only be in good stead with God if we are in good stead with the neighbour. We must not deceive ourselves. The gate that leads to God is our neighbour. There is no other!
Someone comes and asks: “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Matthew’s Gospel says that it was a young man (Mt 19:20.22). Jesus replies rather harshly: “Why do you call me good. No one is good but God alone!” Jesus deflects attention from himself to God, since he wishes to do the Father’s will, so as to reveal the Father’s plan. Then Jesus says: “You know the commandments: you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false witness, honour your father and mother”. The young man had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. He wanted to live close to God! But Jesus only reminds him of the commandments that concern to life close to the neighbour! He does not mention the first three commandments that talk of the relationship with God! For Jesus, we can only be in good stead with God if we are in good stead with the neighbour. We must not deceive ourselves. The gate that leads to God is our neighbour. There is no other!
Mark 10:20: What
is the use of keeping the commandments?
The young man answers that he already had long observed the commandments. What follows is strange. The young man wanted to know the way to eternal life.Now, the way to eternal life was and still is: to do God’s will as expressed in thecommandments. This means that the young man observed the commandments without knowing why! He did not know that his practice of observing the commandments since his youth was the way to God, to eternal life. Many Catholics today do not know why they are Catholic. ”I was born inItaly ,
I was born in Ireland
The young man answers that he already had long observed the commandments. What follows is strange. The young man wanted to know the way to eternal life.Now, the way to eternal life was and still is: to do God’s will as expressed in thecommandments. This means that the young man observed the commandments without knowing why! He did not know that his practice of observing the commandments since his youth was the way to God, to eternal life. Many Catholics today do not know why they are Catholic. ”I was born in
Mark 10:21-22: Sharing
goods with the poor
Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him and he said: ‘You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me! Jesus does not judge the young man, does not criticize him, but seeks to help him take one more step in life. The conversion that Jesus asks for is an on-going one. The observance of the commandments is but the first step on a ladder that goes further and higher. Jesus asks for more! The observance of the commandments prepares us to be able to give ourselves completely to the neighbour. The Ten Commandments are the way to the perfect practice of the two commandments of love of God and of neighbour (Mk 12:29-31; Mt 7:12). Jesus asks a lot, but he asks it with much love. The young man does not accept Jesus’ invitation and goes away because “he was a man of great wealth”.
Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him and he said: ‘You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me! Jesus does not judge the young man, does not criticize him, but seeks to help him take one more step in life. The conversion that Jesus asks for is an on-going one. The observance of the commandments is but the first step on a ladder that goes further and higher. Jesus asks for more! The observance of the commandments prepares us to be able to give ourselves completely to the neighbour. The Ten Commandments are the way to the perfect practice of the two commandments of love of God and of neighbour (Mk 12:29-31; Mt 7:12). Jesus asks a lot, but he asks it with much love. The young man does not accept Jesus’ invitation and goes away because “he was a man of great wealth”.
Mark 10:23-27: The
camel and the eye of a needle
When the young man goes away, Jesus comments on his decision: How hard it is for those who have riches to enter thekingdom of God kingdom of God Brazil
The disciples are astonished by what Jesus says! This means that they had not understood Jesus’ answer to the rich young man: “Go and sell all you own, give the money to the poor, and come, follow me!” The young man had observed the commandments without understanding why. Something similar was happening to the disciples. To follow Jesus, they had left everything (Mk 1:18.20), without understanding why they had left everything! If they had understood the why, they would not have been so astonished by Jesus’ demands. When wealth or the desire for wealth takes over the human heart and vision, then it becomes difficult to understand the meaning of life and of the Gospel. Only God can help such a person! “ By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible”.
When Jesus says that it is almost impossible for “a rich man to enter thekingdom of God
When the young man goes away, Jesus comments on his decision: How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the
The disciples are astonished by what Jesus says! This means that they had not understood Jesus’ answer to the rich young man: “Go and sell all you own, give the money to the poor, and come, follow me!” The young man had observed the commandments without understanding why. Something similar was happening to the disciples. To follow Jesus, they had left everything (Mk 1:18.20), without understanding why they had left everything! If they had understood the why, they would not have been so astonished by Jesus’ demands. When wealth or the desire for wealth takes over the human heart and vision, then it becomes difficult to understand the meaning of life and of the Gospel. Only God can help such a person! “ By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible”.
When Jesus says that it is almost impossible for “a rich man to enter the
Mark 10:28-30: The
conversation between Jesus and Peter
Peter had understood that “to enter thekingdom of God
Peter had understood that “to enter the
c) Further
information:
Jesus and option for
the poor
A double slavery
marked the state of people in Galilee at the time of Jesus: (i) The political
slavery of Herod, supported by the Roman Empire ,
that imposed a general organized system of exploitation and repression; (ii)
The slavery of the official religion, upheld by the religious authorities of
the time. Because of this, the family, the community, the clan were
disintegrating and most people lived excluded, marginalized, with no fixed
place, without a religion and without a society. To fight this disintegration
of the community and the family, there were several movements, which, like
Jesus, tried a new way of life and of living together in community. Such were
the Essenes, the Pharisees and, later, the Zealots, all of whom lived in
community. In Jesus’ community, however, there was something new and different
from the other two groups. This was the attitude towards the poor and the
excluded.
The community of
Pharisees lived apart. The
word “Pharisee” means “separate”. They lived apart from the impure people. Many Pharisees looked upon the
people as ignorant and cursed (Jn 7:49), full of sin (Jn 9:34). They learnt
nothing from the people (Jn 9:34). On the other hand, Jesus and his community
lived among the excluded who were considered impure: publicans, sinners,
prostitutes and lepers (Mk 2:16; 1:41; Lk 7:37). Jesus sees the richness and
value they possess (Mt 11:25-26; Lk 21:1-4). He proclaimed the poor happy
because the Kingdom belongs to them (Lk 6:20; Mt 5:3). He defines his own
mission as “proclaiming the Good News to the poor” (Lk 4: 18). He lives like
the poor. He owns nothing, not even a stone to lay his head upon (Lk 9:58). To
those who wished to follow him he offered a choice: God or mammon! (Mt 6:24).
He tells them to make choices in favour of the poor! (Mk 10:21) The poverty
that characterizes Jesus’ life and that of his disciples, characterized also
his mission. Contrary to other missionaries (Mt 23:15), Jesus’ disciples could
not carry anything with them, no gold, no silver, no two tunics, no purse and
no sandals (Mt 10:9-10). They had to trust in the hospitality of others (Lk
9:4; 10:5-6). And if they were made welcome by the people, they had to work
like everyone else and live on what they earned (Lk 10:7-8). They had to look
after the sick and needy (Lk 10:9; Mt 10:8). Then they could say to people:
“The Kingdom of God
On the other hand,
when it is a matter of administering goods, what strikes us in Jesus’ parables
is the seriousness that he demands in the use of these goods (Mt 25:21.26; Lk
19: 22-23). Jesus wants money to be at the service of life (Lk 16:9-13). For
Jesus, poverty was not synonymous with laziness and negligence. This different
witness in favour of the poor was what was missing in the popular movements of
the times of the Pharisees, Essenes and Zealots. In the Bible, every time a
movement arises to renew the Covenant, it begins by establishing once again the
rights of the poor and excluded. Without this, the Covenant is impossible. Thus
did the prophets and thus does Jesus. He denounces the old system that, in the
name of God, excluded the poor. Jesus proclaims a new beginning that, in the
name of God, gathers the excluded. This is the meaning and reason for the
insertion of the mission of the Jesus’ community in the midst of the poor. He
dips into the roots and inaugurates the New Covenant.
6. Praying with Psalm
15 (14)
God’s guest!
Yahweh, who can find a
home in your tent,
who can dwell on your holy mountain?
who can dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever lives
blamelessly,
who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart,
who keeps the tongue under control,
who does not wrong a comrade,
who casts no discredit on a neighbour,
who looks with scorn on the vile,
but honours those who fear Yahweh,
who stands by an oath at any cost,
who asks no interest on loans,
who takes no bribe to harm the innocent.
No one who so acts can ever be shaken.
who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart,
who keeps the tongue under control,
who does not wrong a comrade,
who casts no discredit on a neighbour,
who looks with scorn on the vile,
but honours those who fear Yahweh,
who stands by an oath at any cost,
who asks no interest on loans,
who takes no bribe to harm the innocent.
No one who so acts can ever be shaken.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank
for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father.
May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice
that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not
only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the
Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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