First reading Wisdom 7:7-11
I esteemed Wisdom more than sceptres or thrones
I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones;
compared with her, I held riches as nothing.
I reckoned no priceless stone to be her peer,
for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand,
and beside her silver ranks as mud.
I loved her more than health or beauty,
preferred her to the light,
since her radiance never sleeps.
In her company all good things came to me,
at her hands riches not to be numbered.
Responsorial Psalm 89(90):12-17
Fill us with your love so that we may rejoice.
Make us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.
Fill us with your love so that we may rejoice.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction
for the years when we knew misfortune.
Fill us with your love so that we may rejoice.
Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands.
Fill us with your love so that we may rejoice.
Second reading Hebrews 4:12-13
The word of God cuts more finely than a double-edged sword
The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.
Gospel Mark 10:17-30
Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me
Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’
Peter took this up. ‘What about us?’ he asked him. ‘We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.’
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The gift of freedom
The gospel introduces us to an encounter and conversation between Jesus and a man who is presented as good and rich. The man ran towards Jesus, recognising that He had something that, no matter how rich he was, he still lacked. That is why he addressed Him as ‘Master’, someone who knew and lived more than himself. What was he looking for? He wanted to ensure his eternal life. Jesus mentioned the Law of Moses, i.e. the Ten Commandments in response to his question. As a devout Jew, this man had already obeyed them all. “Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him…” Upon hearing him, Jesus looked at him with love and told him that what his heart was searching for was to be fully free, detached from his possessions, so that he could follow Him closely.
In this time of prayer, Jesus invites us to free ourselves from worries, material concerns, and worldly desires. He offers us His loving gaze and encourages us to fully embrace His life here and now. Let us not leave in sadness like the rich man in the gospel who could not let go of his possessions.
Reflective question:
What is Jesus inviting me through this passage?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
