Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 347
Lectionary: 347
To the penitent God
provides a way back,
he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Return to him and give up sin,
pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin,
hate intensely what he loathes,
and know the justice and judgments of God,
Stand firm in the way set before you,
in prayer to the Most High God.
Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High
in place of the living who offer their praise?
Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly,
but offer your praise before death.
No more can the dead give praise
than those who have never lived;
You who are alive and well
shall praise and glorify God in his mercies.
How great the mercy of the LORD,
his forgiveness of those who return to him!
he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Return to him and give up sin,
pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin,
hate intensely what he loathes,
and know the justice and judgments of God,
Stand firm in the way set before you,
in prayer to the Most High God.
Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High
in place of the living who offer their praise?
Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly,
but offer your praise before death.
No more can the dead give praise
than those who have never lived;
You who are alive and well
shall praise and glorify God in his mercies.
How great the mercy of the LORD,
his forgiveness of those who return to him!
Responsorial PsalmPS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
R. (11a) Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Alleluia2 COR 8:9
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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 the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men 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 Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”
Meditation: "Give to the poor, and 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.
Misplaced hope and treasure
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 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.
The greatest joy possible
Why does Jesus tell 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.
Why does Jesus tell 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.
The priceless treasure of God's kingdom
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find that they cannot outmatch 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?
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find that they cannot outmatch 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).
Where do we find true security?
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 Palestine. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers when the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized man had to "lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to knell and crawl through it.
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 Palestine. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers when the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized man had to "lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to knell and crawl through it.
Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us
falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their attitude
towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say, I am rich, I
have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelations 3:17). Wealth can also
lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at
the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the
poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They also neglected to serve God.
We loose what we keep - we gain what we give away
The scriptures give us a paradox: we lose what we keep and we gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in eternity (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us to this earth unless we guard our hearts and set our treasure on God and his everlasting kingdom. Where is your treasure?
The scriptures give us a paradox: we lose what we keep and we gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in eternity (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us to this earth unless we guard our hearts and set our treasure on God and his everlasting kingdom. Where is your treasure?
"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."
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED, MONDAY, MAY 25
"The memory of the righteous will be a blessing." Proverbs 10: 7
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was established in 1868 to commemorate those who had died in the Civil War. The first official observance included a program at the National Cemetery at Arlington and memorial services in various communities. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic designated May 30, 1868, "as a day for strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, hamlet or churchyard in the land." Memorial Day was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. It is celebrated in most states on the last Monday in May.
ORDINARY TIME
Ordinary Time is called "ordinary" because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in penance (as in Advent and Lent), but in watchfulness and expectation of the Second Coming of Christ. There are two times we are in Ordinary Time. There are 28 weeks of Ordinary Time after Easter and 5 weeks of Ordinary Time after Christmas. However, this varies depending upon when Easter falls in a particular year. The actual number of weeks of Ordinary Time in any given year can total 33 or 34.
EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
MONDAY, MAY 25, , MARK 10:17-27
Weekday
(Sirach 17:20-24; Psalm 32)
KEY VERSE: "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven" (v 21).
TO READ: A rich man approached Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him that the answer to his question could be found in the Mosaic Law, which was a reflection of God's righteousness. When the man said that he had kept the Law all of his life, Jesus invited him to take another step on his spiritual journey. By sharing his wealth with the poor, the man would be rewarded with even greater treasures in heaven. But the rich man was unable to part with his possessions, and saddened, he walked away. Jesus warned his disciples that wealth could be an obstacle to the kingdom of God. Jesus used the image of a heavily laden camel trying to squeeze through the city gates to show that his followers should not be so weighed down with material goods that they would be unable to pass through heaven's gate.
TO REFLECT: What do I do to help the poor?
TO RESPOND: Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous with the gifts you have given to me.
Optional Memorial of Bede the Venerable,
priest and doctor of the Church
Bede was born around the time England was
Christianized. Raised from age seven in the abbey of Saints Peter and Paul at
Wearmouth-Jarrow, Bede lived there his whole life. A Benedictine monk, Bede was
the most learned man of his day, and his writings started the idea of dating
this era from the incarnation of Christ. He was a teacher and author, writing
about history, mathematics, music, astronomy, poetry, grammar, philosophy,
homiletics, the Saints, and a Bible commentary. The central theme of Bede's Historia
Ecclesiastica was of
the Church using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to
stamp out violence and barbarism. Our knowledge of England before the 8th
century is mainly the result of Bede's writing. He was declared a Doctor of the
Church on 13 November 1899 by Pope Leo XIII.
Optional Memorial of Gregory VII, pope
One of the great reforming popes, Gregory VII took the throne of the papacy in 1073, and Emperor Henry IV promised to support him. At that time, simony and a corrupt clergy threatened to destroy faith in the Church. Gregory suspended all clerics who had purchased their position, and ordered the return of all purchased church property. The corrupt clergy rebelled; Henry IV broke his promise, and promoted the rebels. Gregory responded by excommunicating anyone involved in lay investiture. He summoned Henry to Rome, but the emperor's supporters drove Gregory into exile. Henry installed the anti-pope Guibert of Ravenna who was driven from Rome by the Normans who supported Gregory. The Normans were so out of control that the people of Rome drove them and Gregory out. The Pope retreated to Salerno where he spent the remainder of his papacy until his death in 1085
Optional Memorial of Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi
Catherine
de'Pazzi was sent to a convent at age 14, but was taken back home by her family
who opposed her religious vocation and wanted her to marry well. They
eventually gave in to her desires, and Catherine became a Carmelite of the
Ancient Observance at age 16, taking the name Sister Mary Magdalene. A mystic,
she led a hidden life of prayer and self-denial, praying particularly for the
renewal of the Church and encouraging the sisters in holiness. Her life was
marked by many extraordinary graces. She was canonized in 1669 by Pope Clement
IX.
Monday 25 May 2015
Our Lady Help of
Christians.
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time.
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31. You are the highest honour of our race. Judith 13:18-20. James 3:13-18. Luke 1:39-56 [St Bede; St Gregory VII; St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi; St Madeleine Sophie Barat].
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time.
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31. You are the highest honour of our race. Judith 13:18-20. James 3:13-18. Luke 1:39-56 [St Bede; St Gregory VII; St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi; St Madeleine Sophie Barat].
‘From now on all
generations will call me blessed.’
And so they have. But
perhaps all those centuries of Christianity separating Nazareth and us have
blunted some of the impact of Mary’s song. We too often forget that these are
words of a pregnant young girl who had every reason to be frightened, not
rejoicing.
When the angel told her she
would bear a child, she had asked the obvious question: ‘How?’ No doubt she
also wondered, ‘What will become of me now?’ But her final answer was, ‘Behold the
handmaid of the Lord.’
Mary’s response is a model
of ours. So often, God seems to be asking us to do something that makes no
sense and offers only pain and humiliation. But we pray, ‘My spirit rejoices in
God my saviour.’
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
It’s a Beautiful Thing
|
The truth is that suffering can be a beautiful thing, if we have
the courage to trust God with everything, like Jesus did upon the cross.
May
25
St. Bede the Venerable
(672?-735)
St. Bede the Venerable
(672?-735)
Bede is one of the few saints honored as such even during his
lifetime. His writings were filled with such faith and learning that even while
he was still alive, a Church council ordered them to be read publicly in the
churches.
At an
early age Bede was entrusted to the care of the abbot of the Monastery of St.
Paul, Jarrow. The happy combination of genius and the instruction of scholarly,
saintly monks produced a saint and an extraordinary scholar, perhaps the most
outstanding one of his day. He was deeply versed in all the sciences of his
times: natural philosophy, the philosophical principles of Aristotle,
astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, ecclesiastical history, the lives of the saints
and, especially, Holy Scripture.
From the
time of his ordination to the priesthood at 30 (he had been ordained deacon at
19) till his death, he was ever occupied with learning, writing and teaching.
Besides the many books that he copied, he composed 45 of his own, including 30
commentaries on books of the Bible.
Although
eagerly sought by kings and other notables, even Pope Sergius, Bede managed to
remain in his own monastery till his death. Only once did he leave for a few
months in order to teach in the school of the archbishop of York. Bede died in
735 praying his favorite prayer: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Spirit. As in the beginning, so now, and forever.”
His Ecclesiastical
History of the English People is commonly regarded as of decisive
importance in the art and science of writing history. A unique
era was coming to an end at the time of Bede’s death: It had fulfilled its
purpose of preparing Western Christianity to assimilate the non-Roman barbarian
North. Bede recognized the opening to a new day in the life of the Church even
as it was happening.
Comment:
Though his History is the greatest legacy Bede has left us, his work in all the sciences (especially in Scripture) should not be overlooked. During his last Lent, he worked on a translation of the Gospel of St. John into English, completing it the day he died. But of this work “to break the word to the poor and unlearned” nothing remains today.
Though his History is the greatest legacy Bede has left us, his work in all the sciences (especially in Scripture) should not be overlooked. During his last Lent, he worked on a translation of the Gospel of St. John into English, completing it the day he died. But of this work “to break the word to the poor and unlearned” nothing remains today.
Quote:
“We have not, it seems to me, amid all our discoveries, invented as yet anything better than the Christian life which Bede lived, and the Christian death which he died” (C. Plummer, editor of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History).
“We have not, it seems to me, amid all our discoveries, invented as yet anything better than the Christian life which Bede lived, and the Christian death which he died” (C. Plummer, editor of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History).
Patron Saint of:
Scholars
Scholars
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 10,17-27
Lectio:
Monday, May 25, 2015
Ordinary Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord,
guide the course of world events
and give your Church the joy and peace
of serving you in freedom.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
guide the course of world events
and give your Church the joy and peace
of serving you in freedom.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - MARK 10,17-27
Jesus 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?' Jesus said to 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 give false witness; You
shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'
And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my
earliest days.' 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.' But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a
man of great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' The disciples were
astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, 'My children,' he said to them,
'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'
They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, 'In
that case, who can be saved?' Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources
it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'
3)
REFLECTION
• The Gospel today narrates two events: (a) it tells the story
of a rich man who asks how to obtain eternal life (Mk 10, 17-22), and (b) Jesus
warns on the danger of riches (Mk 10, 23-27). The rich man does not accept the
proposal of Jesus, because he was very rich. A rich person is protected by the
security which is given to him by his riches. He has difficulty to open his
hand and detach himself from this security. He seizes strongly the advantage of
his goods, lives concerned defending his own interests. A poor person is not
accustomed to have this concern. But there may also be some poor people who
have the mentality of the rich. And then, the desire for riches creates in them
dependence and also makes them become slaves of consumerism. They have no time
to dedicate themselves to the service of neighbour. Keeping these problems in
mind, problems of persons, of countries, let us read and meditate on the text
of the rich man.
• Mark 10, 17-19: The observance of the commandments and
eternal life. A person came up to Jesus and asked: “Good Master,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Gospel of Matthew tells
us that it was the case of a young man (Mt 19, 20.22). Jesus
responds abruptly: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone!” Jesus
takes away the attention from himself to direct it toward God, because what is
important is to do God’s Will, to reveal the Father’s project. Then Jesus
affirms: “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”. It is important to
observe always the response of Jesus. The young man had asked something
concerning eternal life. He wanted to live together with God. But
Jesus does not mention the first three commandments which define our
relationship with God! He mentioned only those which indicate respect for the life
lived together with others.According to Jesus, we can only be well with God
if we know how to be well with our neighbour. It serves nothing to deceive
ourselves. The door to reach God is our neighbour.
• Mark 10, 20: What good is it to observe the
commandments? The young man answered that he observed the commandments
since his earliest days. What is strange is what follows. He wanted to know
which was the way to eternal life. Now, the way of life was
and continues to be: to do God’s will expressed in thecommandments. It
means that he observed the commandments without knowing for what purpose.
Otherwise, he would not have asked any questions. This is what happens today to
many Catholics: they do not know what it means to be a Catholic. “I was born in
a Catholic country; this is why I am Catholic!” It is a habit!
• Mark 10, 21-22: To share the goods with the poor and to follow
Jesus. Hearing the response of the young man, “Jesus looked at him and was full
of love for him and said: You need to do one more thing: go and sell what you
own and give the money to the poor and you will have a treasure in heaven, then
come, follow me!” The observance of the commandments is only the first step of
a stairway that goes higher. Jesus asks more! The observance of the
commandments prepares the person for the total gift of self in behalf of
neighbour. Jesus asks for very much but he asks it with much love. The rich
young man does not accept the proposal of Jesus and goes away, because he was a
man of great wealth”.
• Mark 10, 23-27: The camel and the eye of the needle. After
the young man left, Jesus commented on his decision: “How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples
were astounded. Jesus repeats the same phrase and adds: “It is easier that a
camel passes through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the
kingdom of God!”
The expression “enter the kingdom” not only indicates and in
first place entrance into heaven after death, but also and above all, the
entrance into the community around Jesus. The community is and should be a
model of the Kingdom. The reference to the impossibility for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needlecomes from a popular proverb of the time
used by the people to say that a thing was humanly speaking, impossible and
unfeasible. The disciples were astounded hearing the affirmation of Jesus and
they ask themselves: “Then who can be saved?” This is a sign that
they had not understood the response of Jesus to the young rich man: “Go,
sell all you all you own and give the money to the poor and then come follow
me”. The young man had observed the commandments since his earliest
days, but without understanding the reason for this observance. Something
similar was happening to the disciples. They had already abandoned all their
goods as Jesus had asked the young rich man, but without understanding the reason,
the why of this abandonment. If they had understood they would not have been
astounded before the demands of Jesus. When riches or the desire for riches
occupies the heart and the gaze, the person cannot perceive the sense of the
Gospel. Only God can help! Jesus looks at the disciples and says: “Impossible
for man but not for God. For God everything is possible.”
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• A person who lives constantly concerned about her wealth or
who lives always wanting to buy all the things about which the television makes
propaganda, can she free herself from everything to follow Jesus and live in
peace in a Christian community? Is it possible? What do you think? How do you
do it and what do you do?
• Do you know somebody who has succeeded to abandon everything
for the sake of the Kingdom? What does it mean for us today: “Go, sell all you
own, and give the money to the poor”? How can we understand and practice today
the counsels that Jesus gives to the young rich man?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
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