Jesus loves the poor. But here’s what we may not understand of find hard to accept: Jesus loves the rich as well. In His infinite wisdom, God has allowed some of His children to live in poverty and others to live in wealth. Take Abraham, for instance. He was prosperous with land and cattle. Solomon, known for his immense wisdom, also enjoyed great wealth. Job, a faithful servant of God, was the wealthiest man of his time.

Throughout Scripture, God never condemned these men for their riches. So, why did Jesus tell the rich man to sell everything and give to the poor, but never demanded the same of Abraham, Solomon, or Job? The difference lies in this: The rich man didn’t possess money—money possessed him.

Wealth itself isn’t the issue. It’s what we do with it and how we let it impact us. Being rich is not inherently wrong. What matters is the process of becoming rich and how we use our wealth. If the pursuit of wealth is moral, just, and rooted in love—then it can be a good cause, especially if it’s used to love others extravagantly.

Arun Gogna (gognuts@yahoo.com) 

reflect

How well are you using your wealth?

May I not walk away sad because we chose our own ways instead of Yours, Lord.

St. Bede the Venerable, priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

First Reading | 1 Peter 1:3-9 (or Genesis 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14)

One of the challenges of being a Christian is maintaining the joy of knowing we have received the gift of salvation. Why? Because we allow ourselves to become too busy and neglect time for reflection on our faith and all it should mean to us. Let us pray for the grace to remain ever joyful in the Lord.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you ⁵ who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, ⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  ⁸ Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹ as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9, 10 (or Psalm 87:1-2. 3. 5. 6-7 or Judith 13:18-19)

R: The Lord will remember his covenant forever.

¹ I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. ² Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights. (R) ⁵ He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations. (R) ⁹ He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. ¹⁰ His praise endures forever. (R) 

 Gospel | Mark 10:17-27 (or John 19:25-27 or John 19:25-34)

Jesus tells the rich young man that his wealth will not bring him ultimate joy and satisfaction—only a life of discipleship can. Let us remember this as we navigate our temporary, comfortable lives on earth. There is so much more awaiting us in eternal life in heaven.

Gospel Acclamation

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

¹⁷ 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?” ¹⁸ Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹ 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.” ²⁰ He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” ²¹ 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.” ²² At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” ²⁴ 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! ²⁵ 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.” ²⁶ They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 SAMUEL  17 - 20 today.

Chiara Luce Badano, a young Italian girl and the first laywoman member of the Focolare Movement, was beatified on September 25, 2010. While playing tennis, Chiara Luce Badano felt a sharp pain in her shoulders. She was later diagnosed with an advanced stage of bone cancer. Chiara was an ordinary young girl: beautiful, athletic, friendly. She failed once in Math and occasionally tested the patience of her parents.

But there was something extraordinary in her—her love for Jesus, especially Jesus among the poor. She visited sick friends regularly, even those with contagious diseases. Being sick herself, she heroically faced bone cancer, refused treatments that would at least alleviate the pain, and offered her sufferings for the conversion of sinners and as a participation in the sufferings of Christ.

She continuously counseled fellow patients in the hospital. Friends visiting to console her testified coming home more consoled by Chiara’s vitality in the midst of her sickness. Chiara succumbed to bone cancer at the age of 18 in 1990, but her inspiration lives on to this day.

Peter in today’s First Reading tells of how life’s trials and difficulties take on a different meaning and significance when seen in the light of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Facing life’s challenges through the lens of Jesus’ resurrection means rising above the uncertainty of chance with the certainty of choice.

Isn’t this what Chiara lived out most powerfully? What could be more ordinary than death? Death chanced upon Chiara, and yet she chose to be lifegiving even as she was dying. Even as the cancer was chewing her bones away, she exemplified how to live while dying. She met the ordinariness of death with extraordinary vitality. That is why she is a Blessed of the Church now.

We may be helpless in the face of chance, but we are over and above chance with our power of choice. 

Fr. Joel O. Jason 

reflection questions

Do you face life with a fatalistic attitude? Do you always find yourself dragging yourself to your daily activities?

Father, help me realize that he who has a why to live can bear with almost any how. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________________________