Sirach 17:20-24, Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7, Mark 10:17-27

Sirach 17:20-24, Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7, Mark 10:17-27

Sirach 17:20-24

Thank You my Beloved for these words of comfort and encouragement. You look down on us and You are aware of everything we do. You will reward generously any kindness we have shown to another.  You cherish a good deed like the apple of Your eye says verse 22b.

Thank You for assuring us that every repentant sinner will be forgiven and that Your abiding love is the reason for our hope in You, despite any difficulties we may face.

Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7

Once again my Beloved I have Your loving assurance in verses 6-7

So let the faithful ones pray

to you in time of distress;

the overflowing waters will not reach them.

You are my refuge;

you protect me from distress

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Thank You for always hearing our prayers. When we are in distress and call on You we will receive Your mighty protection. No evil will touch us, terror will not overtake us. We who take refuge in You will sing for joy hymns of thanksgiving and praise for You are our God who saves us. Thank You.

Mark 10:17-27

My Beloved, most of us are like the rich man in today's Gospel. The man was eager to live a good life, pleasing to God but he was aware that something was lacking or he would not have come looking eagerly for You. We are told that having found You he ran up to You and knelt before You. He seemed to have done everything that was required of a genuine disciple. He did not know You were God this is why You tell him that only God is good. To his question about gaining eternal life, You give him the most obvious answer follow the commandments. But the man said that he had followed them faithfully since he was a child. 

Divinity gazed steadily into the soul of the man and You knew that here before You was one who truly desired to follow God closely. You then told him that if he truly desired to commit his life completely to God he was to strip himself of all his worldly possessions of which he was well endowed giving it all away to the poor and then come and follow You.  Sadly, the man found it too much. Whatever joy he had in first approaching You with such great fervor fizzled out and dried up like dew in the sun

His wealth possessed him and in choosing not to divest himself of his riches he chose to walk sadly away from You in abject spiritual poverty. He was unable to choose God and place himself in utter dependence on His mercy and generosity.

We are so like him and instead of wagging our fingers we ought to recognize ourselves in him. Much as we would like to live for You Beloved, unless You call us and give us all the grace we need to answer Your call, we too would not be saved. Thank You for the Sacraments the conduit of all graces that save us through You.