＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ezekiel 28:1-10

 The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, 

“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: You are very proud and self-satisfied: ‘I am a god, I sit like a god in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are man and not a god; would you hold yourself as wise as God?  You consider yourself wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.

 Your wisdom and know-how have earned you a fortune, gold and silver flowed to your treasury.  Clever in trade, you became wealthy and as your fortune increased,

your heart became prouder.  But now Yahweh has spoken to you, to the one who is like God: I am bringing foreigners against you, the most feared of all the nations.

Their sword will challenge your wisdom and debase your refined culture.

 They will bring you down to the pit and you will die in the depths of the sea.  Will you be able to say ‘I am a god’ when your murderers are killing you? You are a man and not a god.  You will die the death of the un­circumcised and perish at the hands of aliens, for I have spoken – word of Yahweh.”

 

Dt 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab

It is I who deal death and give life.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 19:23-30

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

On hearing this the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked steadily at them and answered, “For humans it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

 Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see we have given up everything to follow you: what will be our lot?”  Jesus answered, “You who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renew­al, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you, too, will sit on twelve thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel.

 As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold and be given eternal life. Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Following Jesus is not enough. It is just the beginning. Peter and the other disciples have to become another Jesus – or have to own Jesus. When they become nother Jesus, they can already be sent – to be apostles.

This means that the reward for following Jesus is not a paying backward like a salary, position, or life – time security. The reward lies in the paying forward – to share to people the mission of Christ. For those who do not have the experience of genuine apostolic work, this is difficult to understand.

Those who work for the poor, driven by Jesus’love for the poor, do not see limits of time and resources. Their compassionate energy is bottomless. This is energy of eternal life. One becomes unstoppable. There are no such things as mission accomplished, goals achieved, or finish line for someone owning Jesus’ works and mission.