First Reading (1Peter 1,3-9)
Reading of the First Letter of Saint Peter.
Blessed be God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, he has made us born again to a living hope, to an inheritance that is incorruptible, does not spoil, does not fade, or fades away, reserved for you in heaven. .
Thanks to faith, and by the power of God, you were kept for the salvation that must be manifested in the last times. This is a cause for joy for you, although you must now be distressed for some time because of various trials. In this way, your faith will be proven to be true — more precious than perishable gold, which is tested in fire — and will achieve praise, honor and glory on the day of the manifestation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen the Lord, you love him. Without seeing him yet, you believe in him. This will be a source of unspeakable and glorious joy for you, for you will obtain what you believe in: your salvation.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 10,17-27)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, when Jesus went out walking, someone came running, knelt down before him, and asked: “Good Master, what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good, and no one else. 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 harm anyone; honor your father and your mother !”
He replied, “Master, all this I have observed since my youth.” Jesus looked at him with love, and said: “You only lack one thing: go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!” But when he heard this, he was dejected and went away full of sadness, because he was very rich.
Jesus then looked around and said to his disciples: “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astonished at these words, but he said again: “My children, how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”
They were greatly astonished when they heard this, and asked one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but not with God. With God all things are possible.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather today to meditate on two deeply inspiring readings: the first letter of Peter and the Gospel of Mark. These passages offer us a reflection on the living hope we have in Christ and the challenge of following Him with a detached heart. Let’s explore these Scriptures together and discover how we can apply their lessons to our daily lives.
In Peter’s first letter, we find an exhortation to hope and joy, even in the midst of trials. Peter begins by praising God: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Here, Peter reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our hope. This is not just any hope, but a “living hope” – a hope that is alive because Jesus is alive.
This hope promises us an incorruptible, immaculate, and unfading inheritance, kept in heaven for us. Let us think of our inheritance as a treasure kept for us, which can never be destroyed or tarnished. This is a treasure that cannot be compared to earthly riches. It is an eternal treasure that awaits us in the Kingdom of God.
Peter recognizes that, for a little while, we may be afflicted by various trials. But he also teaches us that these trials have a purpose: to prove the authenticity of our faith. Just as gold is refined by fire, our faith is refined by hardship. And this faith, more precious than gold, will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Let’s reflect on this. We often face difficulties that make us question our faith. We may feel like we are being tested beyond our strength. But Peter encourages us to see these trials as opportunities to strengthen our faith and character. He reminds us that even if we don’t see Jesus physically, we love and believe in Him. And this faith brings indescribable and glorious joy, because we are receiving the salvation of our souls.
In Mark’s Gospel, we find the story of the rich young ruler who approaches Jesus with a sincere question: “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus, knowing the young man’s heart, responds with love and wisdom. He begins by reminding him of the commandments, which the young man claims to have followed since his youth. But Jesus sees beyond superficial obedience and gets to the root of the problem: attachment to riches.
Jesus says to the young man: “You lack one thing: go, sell everything you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” The young man, saddened by this answer, leaves, as he had many goods. This passage challenges us deeply. What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? The rich young man fulfilled the commandments, but his heart was tied to his possessions. Jesus offered him the opportunity to free himself from this prison, but the young man was unable to take that step.
Here, Jesus teaches us that following Him requires a heart detached from earthly riches. It’s not that possessions are bad in themselves, but the problem lies in our attachment to them. Jesus knows that riches can easily become an idol, a substitute for God in our lives. He calls us to trust God fully and find our treasure in Him.
Jesus then says to his disciples: “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God!” And they, perplexed, ask: “So who can be saved?” Jesus responds: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
This leads us to deeply reflect on where we place our trust. We may be tempted to rely on our possessions, our abilities, our status. But Jesus calls us to trust God completely. Salvation is not something we can achieve through our own merits or efforts. It is a free gift from God, something only He can grant.
Let’s imagine our lives as a boat sailing on a stormy sea. Riches, possessions, and comforts are like anchors that we think will keep us safe. But in fact, it is these anchors that can sink us. Jesus calls us to cut these anchors, to trust in Him as our true refuge and savior.
So how can we apply these lessons to our daily lives?
First, let us cultivate a living hope in Christ. This means living with the certainty that our true inheritance is in heaven and not here on earth. It means facing trials with faith, knowing that they are refining our faith and bringing us closer to God.
Second, let’s examine our hearts and identify the attachments that keep us from following Jesus fully. It could be the love of money, the desire for status, or anything else we place above God. Let us ask for the grace to let go of these things and place our trust completely in God.
Third, let us act with generosity and love. Jesus calls us to sell what we have and give to the poor. This does not mean that we should all literally sell everything, but that we should live with a spirit of generosity and detachment, helping those in need and sharing our blessings.
Let us now take a moment of silence to reflect on these lessons. Let us ask God to reveal in our hearts the attachments we need to let go of and give us the grace to live with living hope and genuine faith.
Lord, we thank You for Your word today. Help us to live with the living hope of Jesus’ resurrection, to face trials with faith and to follow You with a detached heart. May we find our true treasure in You and live as true disciples of Yours, reflecting Your love and generosity in the world. Amen.
My brothers and sisters, as we leave here today, let us take with us the living hope and the challenge to follow Jesus with all our hearts. May God’s grace accompany us and strengthen us to live in accordance with his teachings. Remember, we are called to trust God above all else and to live generously and lovingly. Amen.
