Gospel: Mark 10: 17-30

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life”?  Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?  No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not bring false witness; you must not defraud; honour your father and mother,” And he said to him, “Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.”  Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, “There is one thing you lack.  Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  But his face fell at these words and he went away sad for he was a man of great wealth.  Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, “My children, he said to them, “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 man to enter the kingdom of God.”  They were more astonished than ever.  “In that case,” they said to one another, “who can be saved?”  Jesus gazed at them, “For men” he said “it is impossible, but not for God; because everything is possible for God.”

GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY. (prepared by volunteers from the Lectio Centre project) 1 Can you remember a time when you grew strong within yourself and were able to let go of something/someone that you had depended on for a long time. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving.           2 Keep in your thoughts Refugees who risk their lives in unsafe boats to travel to Europe in an attempt to “inherit life”. Pray that they will be welcomed.                                                                                                                              3 Can you remember being given “advice” that allowed you to live a more fulfilled and enriched life?  Who gave you that advice – parent, friend, teacher, colleague or spouse?  Offer a prayer of gratitude for that person whose advice enabled you to begin a new journey        4 Think to day of those in our country who are suffering as a result of unscrupulous landlords and find themselves homeless and unable to provide shelter for their families.  We pray and work for a more just and equitable society.