Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
348

FIRST READING

1 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.

PSALM

PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

Response: 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.

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.

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.

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.”

Daily Reflection

If following the law is seen as an obligation then we will never ever live joyfully and freely.

In the Gospel, Jesus is not referring to a quantitative reward when He tells Peter that those who have left everything will receive “a hundred times as much…”. Rather, Jesus is speaking of the quality of life that we experience here on earth itself, when we learn to detach ourselves from worldly or materialistic things. The real reward is the joy we experience in being truly free!

Peter, in the first reading, helps Christian converts understand that living in obedience to God and according to the Good News of Jesus, really means living according to the truth, prompted by the Holy Spirit. And those who dare to live by the truth will experience real joy and freedom, as the truth is liberating.

Those willing to sacrifice short term gains for that which truly lasts, experience complete freedom!