Texts taken from the “Sulla Tua Parola” September-October 2021

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
4th week psalter

FIRST READING

From the Book of Wisdom (Wis 7:7-11)
I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I deemed wealth nothing in comparison with her. I did not compare her even with a priceless gem, because all gold, in her view, is but a little sand, and silver will be valued as clay before her. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I preferred her to the light, because her radiance never fades. All good things came to me along with her; in her hands there is wealth beyond measure. The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

The passage from Wisdom provides a fitting introduction to today’s Gospel reading. Each of us, at every stage of life, is called to assess things and choose what is worth living for. The quality of our lives will depend on what we choose; to make appropriate choices, we need wisdom. This precious gift leads believers to a different attitude toward life and to evaluate things and the world with the wisdom that comes from above and illuminates everything, including the darkest areas of our lives and our history. It is wisdom that enables us to recognize the value of worthwhile things and make them our own, to choose what truly matters and makes life good. For this reason, wisdom is a gift we receive from above and must ask for with great humility, knowing that our freedom is precious but also easily influenced. Those who cling to material wealth lose awareness that there is a world of “different” riches. More important than beauty, health, and wealth is the gift of wisdom! We often forget this.

SECOND READING

From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 4:12-13)
The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword; it penetrates to the point of dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature can hide from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

The second reading points us toward a path: placing the word of God at the center of our lives. Jesus is the Word of God, the Word made flesh. He is the Son of God who, by becoming human, knows well everything that dwells in our hearts. We all know from experience how difficult it is to understand our intentions and discern our deepest and most genuine feelings. The Word can reach deep within, just like a sword that enters the most intimate parts of a person. It is living, dynamic, powerful, sharp… Read, reread, and heard again, it always sounds different and new, capable over time of revealing previously undiscovered meanings in the actions of those who welcome it. Listening to the Word alone or during the celebration is the way to open our hearts to God, or rather, to let Jesus take us by the hand and lead us to know everything that stirs within our hearts and to recognize every aspect of ourselves as a gift to place in God’s hands. We must never be afraid, because Jesus will know the right times and the best ways to guide us. Always.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 10:17-30)
At that time, as Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt 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, “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. Looking around, Jesus 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, “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 a rich person 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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.” The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the Day

Mark’s account of Jesus’ encounter with “a man,” whose identity he does not specify so that each of us can recognize ourselves in him, has been the starting point for countless reflections addressed especially to young people, because this man displays characteristics that bring him close to the figure of a young person. Perhaps because he runs toward the Lord, or because he throws himself at his feet, or perhaps even more because of the insistent question he asks Jesus about life and his deep need to find meaning in his days. But in this respect, the experience of faith should in itself preserve in us a youthful spirit. After the initial question about what to do to have eternal life, the Teacher responds with the far more engaging invitation to follow him, imitating his life. It is a demanding invitation, and for this reason Jesus precedes his words with a gesture full of meaning and grace: “He looked at him and loved him.” Whenever the Lord asks us to follow him, he does not withhold the grace we need. Following Christ is not about sacrifices, but about leaving everything in order to have everything. The Gospel asks us to renounce only what is baggage that prevents us from flying.