Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection March 03, 2025
8th Week in Ordinary Time
03rd March 2025 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 17:20-24
To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth. Return to him and give up sin, pray to the LORD and make your offenses few. Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin, hate intensely what he loathes, and know the justice and judgments of God, Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God. Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise? Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly, but offer your praise before death. No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; You who are alive and well shall praise and glorify God in his mercies. How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 (R. 11a)
R/. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus 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?”” Jesus answered him, “”Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 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.”” He replied and said to him, “”Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”” 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.”” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 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 were amazed at his words. 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.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – 8th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Just as gold is tested by fire for proving its genuineness, so also faith is tested by trials to testify to its genuineness. And exceedingly unsurpassable is the reward for such endurance
Inheritance and possessions attract all. All desire them. But the difference between the people of God and people of the world is the kind of them. The former desire and strive for spiritual inheritance and possessions. But the latter crave and run after the worldly and the material inheritance and possessions. The spiritual are heavenly and are imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. The material inheritance is earthly and is perishable.
The young man in the gospel approaches Jesus with the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” First of all, we can appreciate him for his desire for eternal life. We can also appreciate him for his sincere efforts to obtain it. He follows the ten commandments. Here we can detect his typical Jewish mentality that believes to gain eternal life by following laws.
However, Jesus urges him to go beyond. He demands radical dispossession and sharing with the poor. It calls for a wise discernment between the earthly possessions and the heavenly and a clear choice for the spiritual treasure. Give up the riches, give to the poor, and follow the Lord. It is not just giving up something but the whole self and life. In other words, detach completely from all the possessions and family as well, and attach totally to the Lord.
Jesus is quite aware of the boundedness of material things. That is why he states quite candidly: 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. The reason is quite simple: the material possessions are easy doors for self-indulgence, arrogance, indifference, greed, and injustice
My Practice: Following the laws and commandments of God is not enough. We need to follow the Lord of laws and commandments. Our life is a journey of love for God and not mere adherence to laws
