1ST READING
Repentance
is a gift we can avail of in this life but no longer available to us
when we die. This gives a further imperative to the message of the
Gospel in the mind of Paul as he writes to the Corinthian Community,
telling them that now is the day of salvation. If we know we have
sinned, we should not delay repenting of that sin, as we cannot be sure
that we have too many days ahead of us. Who knows when the Lord will
call any of us home to Himself?
Sirach 17:19-24 (or Sirach 17:19-27)
19 To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth. 20 Return to him and give up sin, pray to the Lord and make your offenses few. 21 Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin, hate intensely what he loathes, and know the justice and judgments of God. Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God. 22 Who in
the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who
offer their praise? Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly, but
offer your praise before death. 23 No
more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; You who
are alive and well shall praise and glorify God in his mercies. 24 How great the mercy of the Lord, his forgiveness of those who return to him!
P S A L M
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
R: Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
1 Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. (R) 5 Then
I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I
confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin.(R) 6 For this
shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. (R) 7 You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. (R)
GOSPEL
In
his reply to the rich young man’s request concerning what is necessary
for eternal life, Jesus opens up the issue of the true nature of
goodness. What
does it mean to be good? Some people think it is merely a matter of
avoiding doing the wrong thing, but this is a minimalist interpretation
and is therefore deficient. A good life is a life lived with a good
purpose and goal. This means that we have to actively pursue a life of
virtue if we wish to live a good life. This is the challenge that Jesus
gives the rich young man. How he responds to it will determine whether
he is living a good life or just avoiding a bad
one.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Mark 10:17-27
17 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?” 18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 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.’” 20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 21 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.” 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus
looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 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! 25 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.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
1 Samuel 13-16
think: A good life is a life lived with a good purpose and goal.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Samuel 13-16
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