DAILY MASS READINGS (May 29, 2018)

TUESDAY OF THE 8TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR II, Green)

Reading 11 PT 1:10-16

Beloved:
Concerning the salvation of your souls
the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when it testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly,
and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Like obedient children,
do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
but, as he who called you is holy,
be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.

Responsorial PsalmPS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,
“We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Reflection: After his encounter with the Rich Young Man (yesterday’s Gospel), Jesus presents to us in today’s Gospel about the hundredfold blessing. The hundredfold blessing is the promise of Christ to his followers who have left their possessions to follow him. In Saint Mark’s version, the Evangelist mentioned persecutions. While Saints Matthew and Luke mentions about possessions and families only, Saint Mark mentions also about persecutions. When Christ began his Public Ministry, many people liked him. In the dark corners, the Jewish leaders did not like him. They think he is abolishing and changing the Law of Moses. They think he is being possessed by an evil demon. But he continues to denounce them of their hypocrisy. They sought an evil plan to get rid of him. That is why they were able to have him put to death. But what they didn’t realize that Christ was risen from the dead. Jesus told his Apostles that they will suffer many persecutions just as he suffered. The early Church was persecuted, and many Christians were being put to death. Some of them hid in their homes and catacombs, nevertheless they continued to put their faith in Jesus Christ. That is why Saint Peter in the First Reading that we are witnesses to others for Christ, and not only for ourselves. Because of Christ who sacrificed his very life on the Cross as part of the Father’s salvation plan, we are thus exhorted to move out of our selfishness and ignorance and live as holy and unblemished before God who is the source of all holiness. In our life, we have so many possessions. We can’t help but protect all the things we have worked hard for. But we should be reminded to regulate these because too much over the satisfaction could cause greed. Christ does not mean that money is bad. What is he telling us that we must also have most of the time for God because in the end, we will store treasures in heaven. We must also open our generous hands, and share our gifts. Most of all, we must endure the faith to the end, even though it has to cost our lives in martyrdom. As we journey down this road, let us gain eternal life by having the most time for God, sharing our gifts, and standing for our Christian faith.