First Reading (Eccl 35,1-15)
Reading of the Book of Ecclesiasticus.
He who keeps the law makes many offerings; he who fulfills the precepts offers a salutary sacrifice. He who shows gratitude offers fine flour, and he who practices kindness offers a sacrifice of praise. What pleases the Lord is to turn away from evil, and what pleases him is to leave injustice. Do not present yourself in the presence of God empty-handed, because all this is done in virtue of the precept. The sacrifice of the righteous enriches the altar, its perfume rises to the Most High. The oblation of the righteous is acceptable, and his memory will not be forgotten. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not haggle over the firstfruits you present. Make all your offerings with a serene countenance, and consecrate your tithe with joy. Give to God according to the donation he made to you, and generously, according to your means; for he is a repaying God, and will reward you sevenfold. Do not try to corrupt him with gifts: he does not accept them; do not trust in an unjust sacrifice, because the Lord is a judge who does not discriminate between people.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 10,28-31)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Peter began to say to Jesus: “Behold, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus answered: “Truly I say to you, whoever has left home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, fields, for the sake of me and the Gospel, will receive a hundredfold now, in this life – house, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, with persecutions – and, in the world to come, eternal life. Many who are now first will be last. And many who are now last will be first.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself in front of an altar. Not the altar of this church, but an altar in your heart. What would you bring as an offering to God? What would you consider worthy of being placed before the One who created everything and knows everything? Our first reading from Ecclesiasticus invites us to reflect deeply on the nature of the offerings that pleased God.
“Whoever observes the law multiplies the offerings,” the Sage tells us. What an intriguing statement! She reminds us that true giving begins not with what we give, but with how we live. Observance of the law – not as mere external obedience, but as an expression of love for God – is in itself a multiplication of offerings.
The text continues to mention several offerings: sacrifices of communion, offerings of fine flour, sacrifices of praise. But, remarkably, the author does not dwell on ritual minutiae. Instead, he directs us to something deeper: “Present yourself before the Lord generously…give to the Most High as he gave you.”
Here is the heart of the message: our offering to God must be born of gratitude. When we recognize all that God has given us – life, health, talents, relationships, salvation – we are moved to respond with generosity. We do not give to receive; We give because we have already received abundantly.
But the Sage goes even further. He reminds us that “the Lord is a judge who is no respecter of persons.” Before God, there are no favorites. The rich cannot purchase His favor with luxurious offerings, nor is the poor despised for their humble offering. What counts is the heart.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in the story of the poor widow Jesus observed in the temple, who offered just two small coins – all she had. Jesus declared that she gave more than all the rich, because they gave from their superfluous, but she, from her poverty.
And what about the last part of the reading? “Do not present yourself empty-handed before the Lord, for all this is commanded as a due offering.” Would this be a contradiction? After emphasizing the attitude of the heart, the author seems to insist on the need for material offerings.
There is no contradiction here, but a healthy tension. Faith without works is dead, James tells us. True love is always expressed in concrete actions. Authentic gratitude always looks for ways to manifest itself. Our spirituality cannot just be internal; it must take visible form in our material world.
And that brings us directly to today’s Gospel, where Peter says to Jesus, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you.” What a bold statement! The disciples did exactly what Ecclesiasticus recommends – they gave generously, recognizing what they had received from God.
Jesus’ answer is fascinating: “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or fields for the sake of me and the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold in this time… and in the world to come, eternal life.”
Jesus does not deny that discipleship involves sacrifice. Leaving everything to follow Christ is a radical decision. But He immediately points out that this apparent “losing” is actually a “winning” on an incomparably larger scale.
Think about it: whoever leaves a family for the love of Christ gains a much larger spiritual family – the Church. Whoever renounces material possessions gains spiritual freedom and the joy of experiencing God’s providence. Whoever gives up worldly status and recognition gains the approval of God himself.
But Jesus adds an important note: “with persecutions.” The path of discipleship is not without difficulties. The “hundredfold” that Jesus promises is not necessarily material or immediate. It is a promise of fullness of life, of purpose, of community, even – or perhaps especially – in the midst of tribulations.
And then Jesus concludes with a paradoxical statement that beautifully sums up today’s two readings: “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” The economy of the Kingdom of God is radically different from the economy of the world.
In the world, we value status, wealth, power. In the Kingdom, what counts is love, humility and service. In the world, we seek to accumulate; in the Kingdom, we learn to let go. In the world, we compete to be first; in the Kingdom, we discover the freedom to be last.
My dear brothers and sisters, what do these readings tell us today? I believe they call us to reexamine our offerings to God. Not just what we put into the Sunday collection – although that is important too – but the entirety of our lives.
How is the altar of your heart? What have you offered to God? Your time? Your talents? Your possessions? Your life? Your struggles? Your joys? All of this can become a pleasant offering when presented with a grateful and sincere heart.
If you feel like you have little to offer, remember: God doesn’t look at quantity, but at the quality of our love. If you feel like you have already sacrificed too much, remember Jesus’ promise: nothing we give to Him is lost, but transformed and multiplied beyond our imagination.
And perhaps most importantly: in the Eucharist we now celebrate, Jesus continues to give us the supreme example of self-giving. He who was rich became poor for us. He who was first became last. He who was Lord became a servant. And, paradoxically, through this emptying, He brought the richest of all blessings – our redemption.
May we, inspired by this incomparable love, renew our offering to God today. Not just with words or external rites, but with the sincere surrender of everything we are and everything we have. And as we do, we will discover the truth of Jesus’ promise: as we lose our lives for the sake of Him, we actually find it in its fullness.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always. Amen.
