Eighth Week of Ordinary
29th May 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Psalm 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7
R/. of you are told glorious things, O city of God!
Gospel : John 19:25-34
25 standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Give up!
Indicative: God wills that we all inherit eternal life. But it is not an easy task. It needs to go beyond the ordinary and the minimum{alertSuccess}
1. “How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” Jesus states thus in the gospel. This points to the culture of our world. We are living in a world that has a mentality which is easy-going and take-for-granted. Especially things other than the worldly and material do not often receive much attention.
2. The first question that is worth-posing is: How many are really interested in God, spiritual matters, Kingdom and eternal life? How many are really concerned about the right values? How many are thoughtful and concerned about the needs and struggles of the poor and needy?
3. In that way, the desire of the young man for eternal life is praiseworthy. He stands as a contrast to many who are short-sighted and earth-bound and not heaven-directed. He is also appreciable because he is not just satisfied with the desire and intention.
4. His desire for eternity is supported by a loyal observance of God’s laws and commandments. However, it is not enough. Jesus says, “There is one thing that is lacking”. Perfection calls for more. It calls for a radical journey of the 4 D’s: detachment, dispossession, distribution and discipleship.
5. This is the kind of life that is laid out in the first reading. It is a life that is marked by penitence, turning away from sin and the error of the ungodly, and standing firm in God’s way of justice. This is a life pleasing to God. This is very challenging and strenuous. It needs God’s grace and not merely human effort. That is why Jesus says, “For men, it is impossible but not for God. All things are possible for God”.
Imperative: Possessing riches in itself is not wrong. But we should be cautious that riches should not possess and enslave us in the process{alertSuccess}