Monday February 28, 2022

Monday of 8th Week in Ordinary Time

Not Willing to Pay the Price 

                                   

Introduction

The first letter of Peter was written in Rome and addressed to non-Jewish Christians of the Asian region. The assistance of a secretary may explain how his Greek is rather sophisticated for a fisherman from Galilee. He begins his letter with a hymn, as some Greek authors were wont to do. Key themes of the letter, like baptism and the difficulties from the part of non-Christians, appear in this hymn.

The young man of the Gospel is proud, perhaps a bit pharisaical, to have observed the commandments since his childhood. But Jesus asks more: for the kingdom of God one must be willing to follow Jesus absolutely and give up everything else for it. Jesus’ offer is too demanding for him to be accepted. The young man was not willing to pay the price. Are we always willing to pay it fully?

 

Opening Prayer

God our Father,
your Son Jesus, looks at us with love
and he asks us to follow him
generously and radically.
But you know how hard it is for us
not to be attached more
to things and people than to you.
Sustain us in our struggles
to be fully free for you and people,
for what is impossible for us
you can do in us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

1st 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 – Psalms 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 AND 10C

(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.

 

Alleluia – 2 Corinthians 8:9

Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, 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.”

 

Intentions

–          For those in the Church, who proclaim to us the wisdom of the Word of God, that they themselves may first live it and share their experience with us, we pray:

–          For parents and educators, that they may challenge the young to live for things that matter; and for the young, that idealism and generosity may keep guiding their lives, we pray:

–          For all of us, that we may be deeply aware that by the grace of God we have the strength to answer the invitation of the Lord, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
in these humble signs of bread and wine,
we will soon recognize the presence
of your Son, Jesus Christ, in our midst.
May he give us eyes and hearts of faith
to recognize his real presence also,
in all who are poor
and do not count in this world.
Make us small and poor enough
to know that we owe to the poor
what we owe to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

God, our Father,
in this Eucharist we have encountered
your Son, Jesus Christ.
Let him give us the poverty of heart
to follow him wherever he calls us.
We may have few material things
to sell and give to the poor.
Make us aware of all the riches
of mind and heart, of patience and love
that we can share
and help us to do so wholeheartedly and without regret,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Blessing

Usually an encounter with Jesus changes a person. But one can also refuse, like the rich man of the Gospel. May we have encounters with him that change us. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary 

Wrong Question

 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The very question was wrong—for it was built on a faulty assumption that we must “do” something to inherit eternal life. You do not “do” anything to get your inheritance; you just need to “be.” I inherit my parental property not because of anything I do, but because of who I “am.” When you become truly conscious of who you “are” and grow into that self, behavior proper to such a self will simply flow from you. In other words, “doing” will follow your “being” as a consequence, not vice versa. St. Peter refers to this inheritance in the first reading, telling us that this “inheritance that does not corrupt, nor goes bad, nor passes away, is reserved for you in heaven.” Had the young man been truly conscious of this, the invitation of Jesus would have thrilled his heart: to leave everything behind and walk beside Jesus, the true spouse of his soul, his eternal possession. 

Reflection taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF