Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 348
Lectionary: 348
To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.
For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.
For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Responsorial
Psalm 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 And 23
R. (23b)
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 10:28-31
Peter began to say to Jesus,
'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.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."
'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.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Meditation:
"We have left everything and followed you"
What's
the best investment you can make with your life? The gospel
presents us with a paradox: we lose what we keep, and we gain what we give
away. When we lose our lives for Jesus Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and
an inheritance which lasts forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a
hundredfold. Generosity flows from a heart full of gratitude for the abundant
mercy and grace which God grants. Do you give freely and generously? And why do
you give, for reward or for love?
The
Lord Jesus rewards those who follow him
Right after a wealthy young man refused to follow Jesus, Peter, somewhat crudely wanted to know what he and the other disciples would get out of it since they had freely accepted Jesus' offer to follow him unconditionally. Jesus spoke with utter honesty: Those who left all for him would receive a hundred times more now, even in this life, as well as unending life in the age to come. Jesus' disciples can expect opposition and persecution from those who are opposed to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
Right after a wealthy young man refused to follow Jesus, Peter, somewhat crudely wanted to know what he and the other disciples would get out of it since they had freely accepted Jesus' offer to follow him unconditionally. Jesus spoke with utter honesty: Those who left all for him would receive a hundred times more now, even in this life, as well as unending life in the age to come. Jesus' disciples can expect opposition and persecution from those who are opposed to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
The
joy and treasure of God's everlasting kingdom
Should we be surprised if we lose favor and experience ridicule, intimidation, and injury when we take a stand for truth and righteousness? In place of material wealth, Jesus promised his disciples the blessing and joy of rich fellowship with the community of believers. No earthly good or possession can rival the joy and bliss of knowing God and the peace and unity he grants to his disciples. The Lord Jesus wants to fill our hearts with the vision of the heavenly kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the joy of following the Lord Jesus and serving him? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy and peace of God which does not pass away and with the assurance of his personal love for you which never fails.
Should we be surprised if we lose favor and experience ridicule, intimidation, and injury when we take a stand for truth and righteousness? In place of material wealth, Jesus promised his disciples the blessing and joy of rich fellowship with the community of believers. No earthly good or possession can rival the joy and bliss of knowing God and the peace and unity he grants to his disciples. The Lord Jesus wants to fill our hearts with the vision of the heavenly kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the joy of following the Lord Jesus and serving him? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy and peace of God which does not pass away and with the assurance of his personal love for you which never fails.
"Lord
Jesus, I want to follow you as your disciple and to love you wholeheartedly
with all that I have. Fill my heart with faith, hope, and love that I may
always find peace and joy in your presence."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The spiritual sense of leaving the
family, by Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.
"Do
not let this passage trouble you. Put it side by side with the still harder
saying Jesus delivered in another place in the words, 'Whoever hates not
father, and mother, and children, and his own life besides, cannot be my
disciple' (Luke
14:26). Note that the God of peace, who exhorts us to love our enemies,
does not arbitrarily require us literally to hate or abandon those dearest to
us. But if we are to love our enemies, it must be in accordance with right
reason that, by analogy we should also love our nearest relatives... But
insofar as one's father, or son, or brother, becomes for you a hindrance to
faith or an impediment to godly life, one should then not collude with that
temptation. Attend to the spiritual, rather than the fleshly, meaning of the
command." (excerpt from SALVATION OF THE RICH MAN 22.13)
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, MARK 10:28-31
Weekday
(Sirach 35:1-12; Psalm 50)
Weekday
(Sirach 35:1-12; Psalm 50)
KEY VERSE: "But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first" (v 31).
TO KNOW: Jesus instructed his disciples that they could not enter heaven by their own merits, nor could wealth or power gain them entry. The astonished disciples asked who then could be saved. Jesus told them that salvation could only be achieved by God's grace. Peter protested that he and the other disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus. While Jesus acknowledged their tremendous sacrifices, he added that God would return a "hundredfold" what they had renounced. Though they would suffer persecution in the "present age," nothing could compare with God's gift of eternal life in the "age to come" (v 30). Although the world regarded the disciples as being in the lowest place, in God’s reign they would be first.
TO LOVE: As I approach Lent, what is the Lord asking me to relinquish?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to let go of those things that keep me from your kingdom.
MARDI GRAS
Mardi Gras, meaning “Fat Tuesday” in French, has its origins in medieval Europe. What became a legal holiday in Louisiana in 1875 was once a Christian holiday with roots in ancient Rome. Instead of abolishing certain pagan traditions, religious leaders decided to incorporate them into the new faith. Eventually, the celebration spread from Rome across Europe to the colonies of the New World. “Carnival” means “farewell to the flesh” in its Latin roots, so it’s all about indulging one last time before the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The day is also called Shrove Tuesday, which comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve." Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Roman Catholics, who make a point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they have committed or areas of spiritual growth they need God's help.
Tuesday 5 March 2019
Ecclesiasticus 35:1-12. Psalm 49(50):5-8, 14, 23. Mark 10:28-31
To the upright I will show the saving power of God – Psalm
49(50):5-8, 14, 23.
‘The last will be first.’
The gospel seems to go beyond the ordinary and proclaim the
reality of the resurrection in each person’s life. Jesus has just staggered his
followers by saying how difficult it is for the rich to gain eternal life.
Peter asks the obvious question that all disciples want to ask at some point:
‘Why am I following Jesus?’
The disciples are getting nervous about following Jesus, and the
words Jesus utters are not what they expect of the Messiah. This occurs
continually throughout Mark’s gospel. The reader, like the first disciples, is
continually surprised by the replies Jesus gives. They seem raw, and passages
of comfort are tempered by paradox: ‘The first will be last and the last
first.’ Apparent poverty can lead to great gains.
Saint John Joseph of the Cross
Saint of the Day for March 5
(August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1734)
 |
| Saint John Joseph of the Cross | Engraving by Alessandri after P.A. Novelli |
Saint John Joseph of the Cross’ Story
Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward
greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows.
John Joseph was very ascetic even as a young man. At 16, he
joined the Franciscans in Naples; he was the first Italian to follow the reform
movement of Saint Peter Alcantara. John Joseph’s reputation for holiness
prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even
before he was ordained.
Obedience moved John Joseph to accept appointments as novice
master, guardian and, finally, provincial. His years of mortification enabled
him to offer these services to the friars with great charity. As guardian he
was not above working in the kitchen or carrying the wood and water needed by
the friars.
When his term as provincial expired, John Joseph dedicated
himself to hearing confessions and practicing mortification, two concerns
contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. John Joseph of the
Cross was canonized in 1839.
Reflection
John Joseph’s mortification allowed him to be the kind of
forgiving superior intended by Saint Francis. Self-denial should lead us
to charity—not to bitterness; it should help us clarify our priorities and make
us more loving. John Joseph is living proof of Chesterton’s observation: “It is
always easy to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one’s
own” (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, page 101).
Lectio Divina: Mark 10:28-31
Lectio Divina
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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 10:28-31
Peter began to say to Jesus, "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. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be
first."
3) Reflection
• In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus spoke about the conversation
among the disciples about material goods: to get away from things, to sell
everything, to give it to the poor and to follow Jesus. Or rather, like Jesus, they
should live in total gratuity, placing their own life in the hands of God,
serving the brothers and sisters (Mk 10:17-27). In today’s Gospel, Jesus
explains how this life of gratuity and service of those who abandon everything
for Him, for Jesus and for the Gospel, should be (Mk 10:28-31).
• Mark 10:28-31: A hundred times as much, as well as
persecutions too. Peter observes: “We have left everything and
followed You”. It is like saying: “We have done what the Lord asked of the
young rich man. We have abandoned everything and we have followed You. Explain
to us how should our life should be.” Peter wants Jesus to explain more of the
new way of living in service and gratuity. The response from Jesus is
beautiful, profound and symbolic: “In truth there is no one who has left house,
brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for My sake and for the
sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses,
brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land, with persecutions too, now in the
present time and in the world to come. Many who are first will be last and the
last, first”. The type of life which springs from the gift of everything
is an example of the Kingdom which Jesus wants to establish (a) to extend the
family and to create community; it increases a hundred times the number of
brothers and sisters. (b) It produces the sharing of goods, because all will
have a hundred times more houses and land. Divine Providence incarnates itself
and passes through the fraternal organization, where everything belongs to
everyone and there are no longer persons who are in need. They put into
practice the Law of God which asks “that there be no poor among you” (Dt
15:4-11). This was what the first Christians did (Acts 2:42-45). It is the
perfect living out of service and gratuity. (c) They should not expect any
privilege in return, no security, no type of promotion. Rather, in this life
they will have all this, but with persecutions. Because in this
world, organized on ego and the special interests of groups and people, those
who want to live a gratuitous love and the gift of self will be crucified as
Jesus was. (d) They will be persecuted in this world, but in the future world
they will have eternal life, which the rich young man spoke about.
• Jesus is the choice of the poor. A two-fold slavery
characterized the situation of the people of the time of Jesus: the slavery
from the politics of Herod supported by the Roman Empire and maintained by a
well organized system of exploitation and repression, and the slavery of the
official religion, maintained by the religious authority of the time. This is
why the clan, the family, the community, were all being disintegrated and a
great number of the people were excluded, marginalized, homeless, and having no
place in religion or in society. This is why several movements arose which were
seeking a new way of living in community: the Essene, the Pharisees, and later
on, the Zealots. In the community of Jesus there was something new which made
it different from other groups. It was the attitude toward the poor and the
excluded. The communities of the Pharisees lived separated. The word “Pharisee”
means “separated”. They lived separated from impure people. Many Pharisees
considered people ignorant and cursed (Jn 7:49), and in sin (Jo 9:34). Jesus
and His community, on the contrary, lived together with these excluded persons
who were considered impure: publicans, sinners, prostitutes, and lepers (Mk
2:16; 1:41; Lk 7:37). Jesus recognizes the richness and the values which the
poor possess (Mt 11:25-26; Lk 21:1-4). He proclaims them blessed, because the
Kingdom is theirs - it belongs to the poor (Lk 6:20; Mt 5:3). He defines His
mission: “to proclaim the Good News to the poor” (Lk 4:18). He himself lives as
a poor person. He possesses nothing for Himself, not even a rock where to lay
His head (Lk 9:58). And to those who want to follow Him to share His life, He
tells them to choose: God or money! (Mt 6:24). He orders that they choose in
favor of the poor! (Mk 10:21). The poverty which characterized the life of
Jesus and the disciples also characterized the mission. Contrary to other
missionaries (Mt 23:15), the disciples of Jesus could take nothing with them,
neither gold, nor money, nor two tunics, nor purse, nor sandals (Mt 10:9-10).
They had to trust in the hospitality offered to them (Lk 9:4; 10:5-6). If they
would be accepted by the people, they should work like everybody else and live
from what they would receive as wages for their work (Lk 10:7-8). They should
take care of the sick and those in need (Lk 10:9; Mt 10:8). Now they could tell
the people: “The Kingdom of God is very near to you!” (Lk 10:9).
4) Personal questions
• In your life, how do you practice as Peter did: “We have left
everything and have followed you”?
• Gratuitous sharing, service, acceptance to the excluded, are signs of the Kingdom. What do I do to live this? When do I do it? Can there be more?
• Look inside. What is the real motivation? Is it from love, or for gain? Is it a “transaction”, gaining extra “credits” for the next life? Is pride involved? Are there other reasons?
• Worldy wisdom teaches one has to be powerful, a “mover and shaker”, to influence others. How does one influence others when they have given away everything and in the world’s eyes are poor? At what point, or in what way, would one’s poverty speak louder and be more influential?
• Gratuitous sharing, service, acceptance to the excluded, are signs of the Kingdom. What do I do to live this? When do I do it? Can there be more?
• Look inside. What is the real motivation? Is it from love, or for gain? Is it a “transaction”, gaining extra “credits” for the next life? Is pride involved? Are there other reasons?
• Worldy wisdom teaches one has to be powerful, a “mover and shaker”, to influence others. How does one influence others when they have given away everything and in the world’s eyes are poor? At what point, or in what way, would one’s poverty speak louder and be more influential?
5) Concluding Prayer
The whole wide world has seen
the saving power of our God.
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98:3-4)
the saving power of our God.
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98:3-4)
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