DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

Monday of the Eighth week in Ordinary Time (March 4)

"Give - and you will have treasure in heaven"

GOSPEL

Mark 10:17-27

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Seek the life that endures, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The Lord said to a certain young man, 'If you would enter life, keep the commandments' (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18). He did not say 'If you would have life' but 'If you would enter life,' defining that life as eternal life. Let us first consider then the love of this life. For this life is loved, whatever its quality; and however troubled it is, however wretched, people are afraid to end it. Hence we should see, we should consider, how much eternal life is to be loved, when this miserable life that must at some time be ended is so loved. Consider, brothers, how much that life is to be loved when it is a life you never end. You love this life, where you work so much, run, are busy, pant. In this busy life the obligations can scarcely be counted: sowing, plowing, working new land, sailing, grinding, cooking, weaving. And after all this hard work your life comes to an end. Look at what you suffer in this wretched life that you so love. And do you think that you will always live and never die? Temples, rocks, marbles, all reinforced by iron and lead, still fall. And a person thinks that he will never die? Learn therefore, brothers, to seek eternal life, when you will not endure these things but will reign with God forever."

(excerpt from SERMON 84.1.9)
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FIRST READING

Sirach 17:24-29

24 Yet to those who repent he grants a return, and he encourages those whose endurance is failing. 25 Turn to the Lord and forsake your sins; pray in his presence and lessen your offenses. 26 Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, and hate abominations intensely. 27 Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades, as do those who are alive and give thanks? 28 From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased; he who is alive and well sings the Lord's praises. 29 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness for those who turn to him!
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 31(32):1-2, 5, 6, 7

Response: Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.

R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.

R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.

R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.

R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.