Greetings on this the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30
Notes:
Wednesday-Friday readings this past week were a short series on prayer.
- Pray, especially in community (Wednesday).
- Pray with persistence, without ceasing (Thursday).
- Pray with power, especially in the Holy Spirit (Friday).
Todays readings focus on the third aspect again.
Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as an outcome of prayer was a reflection topic early this week. https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/10/07/holy-gifts/
The gift of the Spirit is the highest of the gifts as Jesus described.
First reading
Wisdom, the greatest of gifts, that is the Holy Spirit.
- I prayed.
- I pleaded.
- I preferred her for she is greater than scepter and throne, nothing compares.
And the other things (Fish and Eggs and other good things), yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.
That reference only makes sense if you read the other blog entries (ha!).
Responsorial Psalm
Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Second reading
The gift of the Holy Spirit brings a deep penetration that brings healing.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is like that too.
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Alleluia Verse
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Gospel Portion
MAKE NO MISTAKE: God reveals to heal. Period.
There is no other purpose but to bring harmony, unity and peace with salvation.
Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
(Jesus is about to reveal the hidden obstacile)
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
It is in wisdom that brings liberation.
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Popular piety says he returned in the gospel of Mark as follows 14:51-52:
Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.
We are naked before the Lord.
And that’s OK.
That is the beginning of wisdom.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
A SECOND HOMILY GIVEN AT THE 11 AM MASS, SAME READING.
Summary: in the gospel reading today Jesus asks the young man if he follows the commandments. He repeats the six/seven commandments that are concerning the right relation between people. The first three commandments he does not list.
These he recreated for the young man in plain sight.
The first commandment is given as I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me.
We know that the Lord LOOKED and SAW and SPOKE to Moses as to the plight of the Hebrews at the hands of Pharaoh. And He loved them and he spoke to them. Again: showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him.
The second commandment is to not worship in vain. You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. To not take the Lord’s name in vain is, at core, to TRUST him.
You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven.
The third commandment is to Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy.
then come, follow me.
The three first commandments:
- LOVE and love me.
- TRUST and trust me.
- SABBATH and sabbath in me.
Then I merged into the same line of reasoning as the other homily.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 