First Reading
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 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.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: THE CROSS OF BEING RICH
"The man's face fell. He went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!' " –Mark 10:22-23
Most people in the USA are rich by historical and international standards. Whether or not we are rich, we are "falling into temptation and a trap" if we even want to be rich (1 Tm 6:9). We are letting ourselves "be captured by foolish and harmful desires which drag men down to ruin and destruction" (1 Tm 6:9). It's not wrong to be rich but wrong to want to be rich.
"It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mk 10:25). Therefore, we should be reluctant to be rich and do so only if the Lord insists on it. If we are rich, we must be good and faithful servants of the Lord (Mt 25:21), Who is the Owner of all the possessions and money which He has entrusted to us. We must tithe, give alms, and give sacrificially. Some think this will prevent them from staying rich. However, the Lord always outgives us. So those rich who are good servants of the Lord often get richer (see Mt 25:28). Occasionally, the Lord will let a rich person divest themselves of their responsibilities of stewardship. He gives them more freedom and puts them in a position less dangerous to their salvation.
Therefore, give "good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Lk 6:38). This may get you out of being rich. However, if giving makes you richer, take up your cross of being rich, responsible, and endangered, and be a faithful steward.
PRAYER: Father, send the Holy Spirit to teach me (Jn 14:26) how to be poor (Mt 5:3).
PROMISE: "You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears." –1 Pt 1:6-7
PRAISE: St. Katharine used her great wealth to lead American Indians and African-Americans to new life and hope in Christ.
...the word of the Lord...
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