Reading 1 1 Pt 1:10-16
Concerning the salvation of your souls
the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when it testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.
Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly,
and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Like obedient children,
do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
but, as he who called you is holy,
be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Alleluia See Mt 11:25
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 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.”
THE BATTLE OF DESIRES
"Do not yield to the desires that once shaped you in your ignorance." –1 Peter 1:14
Satan is trying to make us his slaves by pressuring and manipulating us through our carnal desires. He wants us to live "at the level of the flesh" (Eph 2:3) and to die spiritually (Eph 2:1). Therefore, we must "lay aside" our "former way of life and the old self which deteriorates through illusion and desire" (Eph 4:22). We are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh" (Rm 13:14). "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24).
Instead of living to fulfill the desires of our flesh, we should hunger and thirst for righteousness' sake (Mt 5:6). We are called to desire and seek first the kingdom of God and His way of righteousness (Mt 6:33). Like Jesus, "with great desire" we must "desire to eat" the new Passover with Him (Lk 22:15, our transl.), that is, celebrate the Eucharist with Jesus.
Finally, both our good and bad desires will be fulfilled. If our carnal desires have not been crucified, they will be "fulfilled" in the selfishness and isolation of damnation in hell. If we have crucified our carnal desires and nourished our godly desires, we will live in love forever, face-to-face with God in heaven. Desire the Lord's desires.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, be Lord of my desires. |
| PROMISE: | "There is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for Me and for the gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property – and persecution besides – and in the age to come, everlasting life." –Mk 10:29-30 |
| PRAISE: | Timothy gave up family, home, and property to become a missionary for the Lord Jesus. |
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