"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward." (Mk 9:41)
READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Letter of James
Jas 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Mark
Mk 9:41-50
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
"Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."
THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
(Mark 9, 41-50)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God today teaches people how to live to avoid going to Hell and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
God is love, He always gives humans the freedom to make their own choices: one is to go to heaven; the other is to go to hell.
Humans have a body and a soul. The soul is important to God because when the body dies, it returns to dust. However, the soul never dies but is either able to return to God or passes to temporary purgatory, eternal purgatory, or hell. God's Word today teaches those who want to be taken to Heaven by God should live and follow His commands, which are: love, charity, and harmony with each other. Sharing compassion, do good deeds and almsgiving, and do not hoard or collect for yourself the things that pass quickly in this world. And God warns people that when they use the freedom God gives them to do the will of Satan, the world, and the flesh, they will have to go to hell with Satan, along with torment, loneliness, pain, burning, nipping maggots, beatings, and torture depending on the level of sins one commits on earth.
Therefore, when the soul on earth wants to enter heaven with God, it must undergo God's purification to make atonement for its sins by enduring pain, enduring humiliation, enduring rejection, and persecution of the world.
What is the opportunity to achieve success in this life? It is to give alms even if it's just a glass of water, live in harmony, live in love, light the fire of love, and be yeast and salt to the world.
When we live on earth, we must have the heat of love and not be indifferent towards our brothers and sisters.
We all know the story of the rich man and the poor Lazarus. When on earth, the rich man had everything. He thought he would have lasting happiness, but he was wrong. He had nothing. When he appeared before the judgment of God, He said: '"My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.'" And when Lazarus was called by God, he was the richest man, enjoying complete happiness in God the Father's heart.
Today, God warns everyone, especially all members of the Church, from Bishops, Priests, religious men and women, and lay people that: to gain the kingdom of God, we must make sacrifices, endure suffering and trials; must give up all that belongs to the world and must completely obey God's will, not hoard worldly wealth, which are: honor, money, material things, praise from people... Those who accumulate these things will not enter Heaven. Therefore, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must go through a narrow door, and to go through this door one must live the words love and charity in each person's life.
God loves humanity so He gives us freedom. Whoever wants to be ravaged by Satan and endure the fire that burns their souls without extinguishing should seek material wealth and peace in this world. Whoever wants to enjoy happiness with God must undergo God's purification on earth. Do not complain, do not rebel. When God calls us to love, sacrifice, and give with self-giving love, obey God, and fear Him above all else, God will give us happiness in heaven. That is a reward that no one can take away.
No one on this earth can experience what eternal happiness in Heaven is like. People on earth can feel the pain of hell, but how many people can experience and witness the happiness of heaven? Because God always loves and always accompanies humans. Today He teaches and warns each person. Try to live according to His teachings.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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