Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 27 May 2024
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time – Monday
1 Peter 1:3-9. Mark 10:17-27
Life eternal
(a) Key theme (gospel reading)
Following Jesus and the challenge of possessions.
(b) Text structure and dynamics
The gospel reading is divided into two sections. The first section contains a dialogue between Jesus and the young man who wishes to follow him, and the second section contains a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples on faith. The young man, who comes half way by following the commandments, is not able to make the rest of the way. Jesus takes this event as an occasion to teach his disciples the cost of discipleship.
(c) Expression and Explanation
‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ (v. 17) – the question of the young man astonishes us. At this young age, he searches for life eternal instead of possessions and pleasure. The young man teaches us that every pursuit for pleasure or possession is futile. Our longings enlarge our existential vacuum instead of filling it. The search for eternal life is common to all of us.
‘The young man went away’ sad—this reveals the pain of letting go.
‘Sell what you have and give it to the poor’ (v. 21): ‘In order to receive, you must give;’ ‘In order to be full, you must be empty,’ and ‘in order to grow, you must become a’child’—these are the contrasting lessons of Jesus. Anyone who wishes to become full must grow empty. Jesus, who says at the Last Supper, ‘the poor you always have with me,’ stresses here the importance of giving to the poor.
‘Camel in needle’s eye’ – Jesus, through a metaphor, narrates the impossibility of the rich entering the kingdom of heaven. ‘Needle’s eye’ is one of the twelve gates of Jerusalem. In order to enter here, camels must be unloaded and made low. A disciple of Jesus who wishes to enter the kingdom must get rid of the burden of riches.
‘All things are possible for God’—we m must cling on to it in order to get rid of other riches. Our closeness to God gives us strength.
(d) First Reading
Peter, who exhorts his community, says that through pain and trials, we move towards happiness. He uses the metaphor of gold being tested by fire. Gold, which is contaminated and impure, is made pure by fire. Being tested by fire is a painful experience for gold. But, through this process, it obtains its value. In the same way, when we are tested by fire, we get rid of the stains of wealth.
(e) Final Word
What do I search for in life? Am I longing for possessions and pleasures, or for eternal life?
Selling everything does not mean impoverishing ourselves. We need riches to live a comfortable and good life. However, we must realise that wealth is transient and impermanent.
The disciple of Jesus must learn self-sacrifice and self-denial, and must set their priorities correctly.
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Following Jesus is our eternal life. This is the incomparable wealth that gives us hope (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 108).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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