Daily Mass Readings for Monday, 21 August 2023
First Reading: Judges 2: 11-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 106: 34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 3
Gospel: Matthew 19: 16-22
Monday, 21 August 2023
First Reading
Judges 2: 11-19
The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,
who led them out of the land of Egypt,
they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,
and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.
Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,
the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,
and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.
He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about
whom they were no longer able to withstand.
Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,
as in his warning he had sworn he would do,
till they were in great distress.
Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them
from the power of their despoilers,
they did not listen to their judges,
but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.
They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,
and did not follow their example of obedience
to the commandments of the LORD.
Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge
and save them from the power of their enemies
as long as the judge lived;
it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries
of affliction under their oppressors.
But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,
following other gods in service and worship,
relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.
Responsorial Psalm
106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They did not exterminate the peoples,
as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
and learned their works.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They became defiled by their works,
and wanton in their crimes.
And the LORD grew angry with his people,
and abhorred his inheritance.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Alleluia
Mt 5:3
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 19:16-22
A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.
Todays Reflection
Perfection
Jesus had a conversation with a rich young man who asked him what good he could do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments and to sell his possessions and give to the poor, which would lead to treasure in heaven. This is the minimal requirement for obtaining Heaven, but it also assumes that the man has faith and is open to salvation.
Perfection can seem beyond us, but as human beings called by God, we are invited to work toward greater holiness. We must strive to become as holy as we can, holding nothing back. The invitation to "go, sell what you have and give to the poor" is not a requirement for everyone, but for those who are spiritually detached from the world, we must have the love of God and the service of His will as our single possession.
This depth of spiritual detachment means that God and His holy will are all we desire in life. If Jesus were to call us to literally give everything up, we would do it without hesitation. The end reward is not only the attainment of Heaven but an incomprehensible amount of glory in Heaven. The holier we become on earth, the greater will our eternal reward be in Heaven.
Reflect on the high calling to perfection given to us by God and ask ourselves if we want more than just being okay. Do we want the greatest riches in Heaven and an eternity where the spiritual treasures we build up now are with us forever? Accept this high calling from Jesus and allow His invitation to echo within your heart as His personal invitation to you. Say "yes" to Him and know that you will be eternally grateful.
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