St. Bede the Venerable, priest & doctor 

St. Gregory Ⅶ, pope 

St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi virgin

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Sirach 35:1-12

 Keeping the Law is worth  many offerings.

Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering.  Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.  Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement. Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands.

The commandment requires that you bring an offering.  When the offering of the righteous is burned on the altar, the fat drips down and a fragrant aroma rises to the Most High. The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be for­gotten. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.

 Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly. Give to the Most High as he has given to you; give generously to the Lord according to what you have; the Lord will repay, he will reward you seven­fold.

 If you attempt to bribe him with gifts he will not accept them; do not rely on offerings from dishonest gain.  The Lord is judge and shows no partiality.

 

Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 & 23

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 10:28-31

 Peter spoke up and said, “We have given up everything to follow you.” Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward.

I say to you: even in the midst of per­secution he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time and in the world to come eternal life. Do pay attention: Many who now are first will be last, and the last, first.”

      

Gospel Reflection：

Peter on behalf of the other disciples articulates the group's inner thoughts. What will they have in exchange for following the Lord? After all, they have invested big in casting their lot with Him. Somehow, at the back of their mind they expect a reward. This is because humans are not capable of pure acts.

Even our seemingly most disinterested acts are infected by self-love. But Jesus is not angry at them. He gives them an answer that is acceptable. Yet a condition is attached. It will come at a great price. The promised reward is therefore not for those who are timid investors in the self. It is for those who cast their all and bet big time for the Lord.