＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Wisdom 7:7-11

 I prayed and understanding was given to me;

I asked earnestly and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.  I preferred her to scepters and thrones and I considered wealth as nothing compared with her.

I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value, since gold beside her is nothing but a few grains of sand, and silver but mud.   I loved her more than wealth and beauty and even preferred her to light, because her radiance never dies.

She brought with her all other good things, untold riches in her hands.

 

Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17(14)

Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy !

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the intentions and thoughts of the heart.   All creation is transparent to Him; everything is uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we render account.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Mark 10:17-30

Just as Jesus was setting out on his jour­ney again, a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, “Good Master, what must I do to have eternal life?”

 Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.   You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.”   The man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood.”

 Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, “For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.”  On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth.

 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”   The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

 They were more astonished than ever and wondered, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked steadily at them and said, “For humans it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God.”

 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.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Jesus is accosted by a rich young man desirous to attain eternal life. But when Jesus invites him to give up everything and follow Him, the young man goes away sorrowful. The apostles are astonished at how difficult it is to attain salvation.

Jesus assures them that all things are possible with God. They who had given up everything to follow Him will receive their reward in this life, and in the life to come.

Reflect:

The rich young man of today’s gospel is a pious believer who follows the tradition and commandment of his faith to heart. Yet he feels that there is still something more to be done, He is not contented with his spiritual achievements.

His heart yearns for something bigger. This is where he dares to approach Jesus and asks Him what must he do more to achieve eternal life. He has done the basics, He wants to venture into something larger than usual.

Jesus loves Him as soon as Jesus sees Him. He is an earnest young man after all. And so, Jesus invited him to a life that very few responds to. A life of poverty and complete dedication to the Lord’s project.

It is an invitation to greatness by divesting oneself of all earthly security. Sad to say, the young man is not ready for such radical invitation. He turned away sad, knowing that the invitation will hound him for the rest of his life.

Did he finally get the courage to respond to Jesus’ invitation? We will never know. For it is us now that has to complete the task of the rich young man. He is each and everyone of us.

Respond:

What stands in the way of our total following of Jesus? This might be a good day to come to terms with what has the capacity to turn us away from the Lord. This will reveal a lot about ourselves.