18 Aug
Mon
20th Week in Ordinary Time
St Alberto Hurtado, SJ, priest
Ez. 24:15-24
(R.Ps.) Deut. 32:18-19,20,21
Mt. 19:16-22
(Ps Wk IV)
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A rich man comes to Jesus asking what he should do to win eternal life. He is told he should keep the commandments. "Which ones?" he asks. And Jesus lists those commandments which speak of our obligations to the people around us. The man says he has observed all of them; is there anything more? Yes, says Jesus. "If you want to be really good, sell off your possession and share them with the poor." On hearing that, the man became depressed and he went away, because he was very rich. He was not as virtuous as he thought. When everyone has a lot and to spare, there is no problem but then who is rich in that situation? To be rich in Scripture is to have much when others around do not have enough. We still live in a world where wealth is admired and flaunted and is the goal of life for many. We also live in a world where a huge number of people do not have even the most basic needs of daily life. In the context of God's Kingdom on earth that is a totally unacceptable situation. A rich Christian is really a contradiction in terms. We still have a long way to go to build the Kingdom.



Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the human family may know how to respect God's design for the world and thus become ever more aware of the great gift of God which creation represents for us.
Elaboration

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