Tag: accountability

“For men it is impossible, but not for God.” | Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

From the Gospel acclamation: “Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (10:17-27, today’s readings)

So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, 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 one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

Jesus responds to a man’s question: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He reminds him of the commandments and lists several, to which the man says he has kept since his youth. Mark tells us that Jesus looks at him with love and says, “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.” The man becomes saddened by this statement because he has many possessions. Jesus comments privately to the disciples how difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God, repeating the statement twice. Seeing the astonishment of the disciples as they question who can be saved, Jesus says that with man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. The glad cries of freedom the psalmist sings of spring from remaining close to the Lord. And how is this accomplished? As Sirach says, “Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God.”

God, help me today remember and live out the words of the Gospel acclamation: “Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” If Jesus, who was rich, became poor, how can I follow his example and become poor even as I receive all of your gifts and blessings? His loving response to the man to sell his possessions is an invitation for me to examine my level of detachment from material goods and to consider how those resources can serve others. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Jesus says. Give me the grace to let go of worldly wealth for the sake of loving service to others. In doing your will, Lord, the hope of the treasure in heaven awaits. How much of that is in standing firm in the way you have set before me? Saint Katherine Drexel, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“For every tree is known by its own fruit.” | Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (6:39-45, today’s readings)

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.”

In the first reading, Sirach says, “The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had.” Jesus tells his disciples some parables to expand on the truth contained in this idea, including spiritual blindness, or a deeply rooted lack of accountability. The blind are not capable of leading the blind, and if there is a beam of judgment in our own eye, that must be removed before we can see out of God-given mercy the splinter in another’s eye. Jesus’ instruction to remove the beam from one’s own eye before addressing the speck in another’s eye is a teaching on the importance of self-awareness and accountability. What does self-examination reveal about our motivations and intentions? Any good fruit in us that “shows the care we have had” reveals the gift of God’s mercy alive in our hearts.

God, you alone are just and know the hearts of your people. Judgment is not mine to wield, and the word of life will come to fulfillment in the final judgment. Saint Paul reminds me to keep this in mind, that life leads in only one direction in hope of the resurrection: “When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about.” Guide me, Lord, to shine like a light in the world as I hold on to the word of life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.