FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 7:7-11
“I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with wisdom.”
I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases. All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 90: 12- 13.14-15. 16- l7 (R. cf. 14)
R/. Fill us with your merciful love, O Lord, and we shall exult.
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Turn back, O Lord! How long?
Show pity to your servants. R.
At dawn, fill us with your merciful love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy for the days of our affliction,
for the years when we looked upon evil. R.
Let your deed be seen by your servants,
and your glorious power by their children.
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us;
give success to the work of our hands.
O give success to the work of our hands. R.
SECOND READING
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 4: 12-13
“The word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ”
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 5:3
Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:17-30)
“Go, sell what you have, and come, follow me.”
At that time: As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.”’ And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” ‘
Peter began to say to him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
The poverty of the rich.
PRIEST: My brothers and sisters, nothing must come in the way of our following of Jesus Christ. Let us pray to the Lord, therefore, for a clearer understanding of the problem of wealth.
READER:
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH, (pause) that they may always value the poor in spirit who follow the example of Christ himself, who became poor for our sake so that we could become rich in God’s love. (pause) Father, hear us; help us to follow your Son we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN THE WORLD, (pause) that they may see their work, not in mere economic terms, but as part of their commitment to the person of Christ, whom they find in the poor, oppressed and hungry. (pause) Father, hear us; help us to follow your Son we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THOSE OBSESSED BY THE DESIRE FOR WEALTH, (pause) that they may be secure in God’s love, are recognize that wealth alone will not bring them serenity and peace of soul. (pause) Father, hear us; help us to follow your Son we pray Oh Lord.
FOR A GREATER LOVE OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST, (pause) that we may surrender everything of ourselves in order to follow him who alone is the treasure of our lives. (pause) Father, hear us; help us to follow your Son we pray Oh Lord.
In silence we pray to God our Father for all our private intentions.
PRIEST: Father, we make our prayers that we may always be content to be rich in your love and grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.