THE WORD
FIRST READING Wis 7: 7–11
Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
Because all gold, in view of her, is a bit of sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and beauty I loved her,
And I chose to have her rather than the light,
because her radiance never ceases.
Yet all good things together came to me with her,
and countless riches at her hands.
SECOND READING Heb 4: 12–13
Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
GOSPEL READING Mk 10,17–30
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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”
IN OTHER WORDS
From time to time, one goes through low moments. With the increasing demands and requirements in school, one cannot help but feel pressed on from every side. On my way to the class hall one morning, a Benedictine monk greeted me, “Coraggio!” (Italian for “Courage!”) I was surprised. I could only manage a smile. Then I realized that probably he saw on my face the signs of worry, anxiety, problems and troubles. It was a greeting that seemed perfect for someone who was embattled and weary. When he uttered that greeting of courage, I felt truly consoled.
Sometimes one goes through the routine and rituals of everyday life. Even if one can design a perfect system or order, yet one continues to long for depth, meaning and happiness. In the Gospel today, we encounter a young man concerned about his search for eternal life. In his riches, one wonders what else there is for him to ask, seek and knock for. He already has everything in life. His moral state is even regularly checked. Indeed, he is quite remarkable for a young man. But Jesus points out one thing he lacks: the spirit of “giving” or “sharing.” He has an accumulation of gifts. His heart is right in following all that is good, and noble and proper. But there is this “one thing” that breaks his heart. He can not let go of his possessions. He does not have the “coraggio” to give up his wealth, perhaps afraid of losing everything that he considers his own. So, instead of opening his palm to receive grace, the hand seems to have balled into a clench fist. Unwilling. Unyielding. Sad.
There is fear in letting go because the human tendency is to be anxious of losing and being left with none. Jesus is clear, however. He emphasizes that alongside the effort is the grace of God’s provision. For his part, Peter stressed a very valid human expression of the fear of loss as though he was asking what would become of him after having abandoned everything. Jesus then oriented Peter to the generosity of a God who will not abandon His children.
- Ferdie Bajao, SVD (Rome, Italy)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
