“How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mk 10:23)
FIRST READING - Wis 7:7-11
First reading from the Book of Wisdom
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
SECOND READING - Heb 4:12-13
from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mk 10:17-30
From the Gospel according to Mark
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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"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."
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR B - Gospel (Mk 10:17-30)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God, God wants to tell all humanity that: The Word of God is eternal, the Word of God is unique, the Word of God is the light, the path that leads people to everlasting life. The Word of God has the power to nourish people when people know how to follow God's commandments.
In today's second reading, God tells people that: The Word of God is the very word that guides people to see the path they need to take to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, to get closer to God the Father. But if people only hear the Word of God but do not put it into practice, it is useless before God the Father. This is like the story between a rich young man and Jesus. Jesus invited him to practice the Word of God: to sell everything to share with the poor. Then he was sad, his face fell and he walked away. This is also a symbolic image for those who proclaim: "Here I am, I come to do the will of God" but do not practice the will of God, then the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be given to that person.
For those who live hypocritically, God the Father also wants to warn them that God the Father is omniscient. He sees all the thoughts, words, and actions of humans. Therefore, people must sincerely live according to God's Word, do not be hypocritical, do not just say it with your mouth but in your heart disobey the will of God the Father. Do not hide from God the Father anymore, and do not boast before God the Father with just empty words, because He clearly already knows people that truly love Him and love others. He knows those people who practice true charity from the heart of love.
Indeed, what God the Father desires is for people to have a heart of sincere love through sacrifice, and self-denial to serve others with love. That is the appropriate way for people to please Him, and that is the important thing for people to become holy and be in His heart. However people in today's world have been tempted by Satan, distorting the Word of God, pushing the Word aside so that they do not have to practice it. They are only seeking glory and honor in this world without worrying about seeking the Kingdom of Heaven.
Dear children of God the Father, let go of your old way of life and put on a new way of life, which is to practice charity, to know how to worship God the Father, to know how to abandon your selfish ego and love your brothers and sisters. Love, care, and serve with all your loving heart, with all your being, then will you please God the Father, then God the Father will reward you with the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven on the last day. Listen to God's words and put them into practice. Do not deceive God, do not deceive yourself anymore. But worry about the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven: to be diligent in doing good deeds, know how to give, know how to do everything according to the will of God the Father, know how to love and serve others with all your soul and mind. Then you will be worthy of being loved by God the Father and led to enjoy the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven with Him.
God the Father wants us in today's world to listen to the teachings of God, not to "fall away with a sad face" like the young man in today's Gospel when faced with the invitation of Jesus Christ. Do the opposite of what Satan tempts, "sell what you have", which are the graces that God has given you to distribute and share with your brothers and sisters; give away your health, talent, time, intelligence, and vitality to give back to your brothers and sisters with the love that God the Father has given you, love your brothers and sisters with the love that God the Father has loved you.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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