Year B
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
Our 1st Reading today (Wisdom 7:7-11) is part of a prayer for Wisdom on the part of an unnamed speaker, clearly meant to be Solomon. It has a clear message, that wisdom is a treasure which is to be sought above all other blessings and gifts and, when sought for its own sake, a wealth of other ‘good things’ will follow.
This psalm (Psalm 89:12-17) is the only attributed not to David, but to Moses. It combines a short prayer with the promise of joyful praise, with the verses carrying a shadow of the lightness and darkness of human life and experience. While the opening verse talks of the short span of years allotted to us on earth in which to gain that wisdom we read about in the first reading, the anger of the Lord for the failings on the part of mankind and a prayer for his mercy, these are more than counterbalanced by the acknowledgement of His mercy, pity love and glory.
For such as short passage, the reading from the Hebrews (4:12-13) is packed with a serious message. Is the word of God something to be afraid of? It cuts through everything, nothing is hidden; our deepest secrets exposed by it to God’s all-seeing gaze. As Jesus tells us himself in Mark’s Gospel, ‘...there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed. Nothing kept secret except to be brought to light.’ But this is not a thing to be feared, as we read elsewhere that ‘the truth will make you free’ and most beautifully of all prologue to St John’s Gospel, that the Word made flesh in Christ is the true light that enlightens all, the light which darkness cannot overcome. This is the greatest and best news of all.
In the Gospel reading, Mark 10:17-30, we read the familiar story of the rich man, honest, devout, and seeking eternal life, but unable to really see where his treasure lies. When Jesus asks him to give up his wealth, to offer it to the poor, he clings to his earthly wealth missing the gift on offer, fellowship with and in Christ. In the longer form, Jesus reinforces this message with his disciples. It is not human endeavour which matters, but God’s power, because ‘everything is possible for God.’ This does not come without cost – Jesus is clear that persecution waits for those who have given up everything to follow him.
As we think about how we live out our lives in the light of this weekend’s readings, we see an opportunity to re-evaluate how we spent our spare time. Perhaps an honest assessment of what we do with it could add real value to our relationship with Christ. Where are we investing our time and energy; what are our priorities? Are they ones which, if we were the rich young man in the Gospel today, Jesus would ask us to let go of to follow him?
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 101-104: Christ, unique Word of Scripture
CCC 131-133: Scripture in life of the Church
CCC 2653-2654: Scripture as a fountain of prayer
CCC 1723, 2536, 2444-2447: poverty of heart
Today’s collect gives us a great insight into the theology of grace. A term we often use freely and sometimes take for granted that people know it’s meaning. Grace is a favour, the free and undeserved help that God gives to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, to be partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life (cf. CCC1996). As such, grace is a participation in the life of God, in that it introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life (cf. CCC 1997). Today we petition God to grant us his grace, his favour, his assistance, which is needed along the journey of life. We pray that grace directs us (go before us)and that it may bear fruit (follow us) and help us to do good (always determined to carry out good works). Grace is a free gift from God, we do not work for it, but accept it with a gratuitous response. Grace justifies and sanctifies us, it makes us fully human, it leads and guides us to be fully configured to Jesus Christ. Grace is necessary for us to live a Christian life in Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the liturgy and the sacraments, grace is bestowed to us. We are touched and moved by God in the liturgy to love him and each other more. In a special manner, being feed and nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ, we are made sharers of Jesus’s divine nature (cf. Prayer after Communion). Do we approach the sacred liturgy with an open mind and heart to receive this great gift from God with gratitude? One of the preparation prayers in the Byzantine Rite prays – ‘It is time for the Lord to act’. Do we allow God to act in our lives through grace received through the liturgy?
Bidding Prayers
For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, our Bishop, Philip - that they will continue to guide the Church in proclaiming and sharing the Good News of Christ through their words and actions.
For peace in the world – that all nations, especially Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Israel, Sudan, and Haiti, be delivered from all turmoil and that peoples may serve God in freedom of heart.
For those who passed away – that they may be welcomed into God’s glory and rise again in glory on the last day.
Note: These hymns have been chosen from different sources.
O the word of my Lord (Song of a young prophet) (CHE572, L979, LHON538)
Open your ears, O Christian people (CFE582, L472, LHON546)
Word of God, come down to earth (L741)
All my hope on God is founded (CFE21, L959, LHON119, TCH200)
O God of earth and altar (CFE527, L935, LHON512, TCH248)
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
