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| “The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Gathering and Protecting Mankind” by Frans Floris, 1562 |
Commentary:
Reading I: Sirach 35:1-12
Commentary on Sir 35:1-12
This reading from Sirach deals with the explicit rules surrounding Jewish Sacrifice rituals and the importance of having the right mind-set when presenting gifts to God. The passage concludes by reminding the faithful that God repays sevenfold (we note here the reference to seven which in Hebrew numerology symbolizes completeness or the perfect number) that which is given by the “cheerful giver.”
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Commentary on Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23
Psalm 50 is part of the faithful’s response to God’s covenant and supports the idea of ritual sacrifice to God. The psalmist refers to the practice as supporting the covenant made between God and his people. From our place in the history of faith, Christ was the one sacrifice that ended the need for all other sacrificial offerings.
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Gospel: Mark 10:28-31
Commentary on Mk 10:28-31
The passage contains the disciples' response to Jesus’ teaching about the discipline of discipleship embodied in the story of the wealthy young man (Mark 10:17-27). After seeing the young man leave because he could not part with his possessions, Peter finds it necessary to remind Jesus that they (the disciples) had given up everything to follow him. The Lord replies that those who have sacrificed to follow him will receive not just the seven-fold repayment promised by Sirach 35:10, but a hundred times more than what they have given up.
This reference made by St. Mark is likely to the growth of Church under the Apostles’ evangelization, and the communal sense of the Church in its early years. The same reference is true of Jesus’ final statement where we hear: “But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first." Here St. Mark is probably referring to the martyrdom many will find before joining the Lord in his heavenly kingdom.
CCC: Mk 10:28-31 1618
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Reflection:
The Gospel from St. Mark continues the disciples’ lesson given by Jesus, and is supported by a reading from the Book of Sirach. In the story of the Wealthy Young Man, we saw the importance of placing God before the material wealth in our lives. It is easy to say that God is more important to us than material things. It is another matter to demonstrate that by giving away or donating a significant part of that wealth (which is later translated into “things”).
This is the point scripture is making today. It is not good enough to just say we love God more than wealth. We must demonstrate that love by sharing what we have with those less fortunate. The disciples did that to the extreme by walking away from their livelihoods. They gave up every material thing to follow Jesus. Peter feels he must remind the Lord of that fact today. And the Lord tells Peter (and the rest of the disciples; we assume Peter was speaking for all of them) that for what they have sacrificed, they will be rewarded.
The lesson today is that charity is something that must be an integral part of our practice of the faith. Ours must not be a faith of words but of actions, and our actions must demonstrate the love of Christ. Today we pray that God will give us strength to give to others, at least in part, what he has given to us.
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Gathering and Protecting Mankind” by Frans Floris, 1562
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