Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

The Treasure of Greatest Value

Outline

Have you ever been in a quandary, perhaps one about the meaning of your life?

Where do you go for answers?

Our First Reading tells us to search for Wisdom from above, which James tells us to pray for

But Hebrews tells us to beware that divine wisdom can cut through all our rationalizations and pretenses

I listened to confessions on Friday/a couple of hours ago - people can fool me

But divine wisdom cuts to the heart and unmasks all that is within

Sometimes I am aware of such wisdom, then I have to ask whether to share it

Jesus shows us an example of divine wisdom leading one to the meaning of life

A wealthy man comes and asks Jesus about how to gain the life of the age to come

Jesus starts with a question: what is really in your heart? You call me good; is this a polite address or do you know what you are saying, for no one is good but God

Jesus starts with the commandments, the Ten Words, and the man has been careful about observing them

Good, that is a start, but these are outward behaviors - Jesus cuts deeper

Sell all, give, and follow me - that type of following is due to God alone - and you will be rewarded by God - now that is secure treasure

The man cannot do that - he cannot lose that status, that security, that protection - the temporal is more real than the kingdom

Then 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 are shocked - if those blessed by God cannot be save, who can?”

Jesus responds “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” - and in Luke shortly thereafter we find two who did give up wealth, a poor widow and Zacchaeus, the customs collector, who was “very rich”

We’ve done it says Peter. Jesus replies simply, listing all they had or would give up for the sake of the Gospel (not just to get rid of wealth) and adding, you will receive more now that you do not own and then the life that is above and beyond this age.

Brothers and Sisters, this is reality

All the stuff we have in this age is fading, it is not ours for long

Reality says invest it in the kingdom, leave it for the kingdom, seek the pearl of great price - it will only cost you all you have

If you keep this in mind and live by it, you are blessed. And we need to remind ourselves often because of the messages of this age. But if we forget and cling to this age, wisdom will reveal the god our heart is attached to, and that will be our loss in this life and in the life to come.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 10-10-2021: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–11

7 Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me;

I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.

8 I preferred her to scepter and throne,

And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,

9 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.

10 Beyond health and beauty I loved her,

And I chose to have her rather than the light,

because her radiance never ceases.

11 Yet all good things together came to me with her,

and countless riches at her hands;

Catholic Daily Readings 10-10-2021: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 90:14

14 Fill us at daybreak with your mercy,

that all our days we may sing for joy.

PSALM

Psalm 90:12–17

12 Teach us to count our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

13 Relent, O LORD! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

14 Fill us at daybreak with your mercy,

that all our days we may sing for joy.

15 Make us glad as many days as you humbled us,

for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16 Show your deeds to your servants,

your glory to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God be ours.

Prosper the work of our hands!

Prosper the work of our hands!

Catholic Daily Readings 10-10-2021: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Hebrews 4:12–13

12 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. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-10-2021: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 5:3

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

GOSPEL

Option A

Mark 10:17–30

17 As he 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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” 29 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 30 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.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 10-10-2021: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–11

Response Psalm 90:14

Psalm Psalm 90:12–17

Second Reading Hebrews 4:12–13

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3

Gospel Mark 10:17–30 or Mark 10:17–27

GREEN