Celebración de la palabra

A hundredfold reward
“Honor the Lord with generosity... Add a smiling face to all your gifts” says the first reading. The advice of Ben Sirach is for honest persons to thank God by offering sacrifices, but God will not accept sacrifices from dishonest people, for he accepts no bribes.
What about those who give up everything for the sake of the kingdom of heaven? They will not only “inherit heaven” but find happiness on earth in the freedom from worries about losing material goods and the inner freedom of belonging to all, in the joy of winning many brothers and sisters in the community. And curiously enough but realistically, Mark adds that they will retain their happiness and reward even in the contradictions and persecutions they encounter in their endeavors for the kingdom. One must remain free and poor within oneself.

Reading: Sirach 35:1-15

Keep God’s word, and you’ll be making a peace offering; follow his life-maps, and you’ll reach your destination sooner. Being thankful is like offering God fine flour; being generous is equivalent to giving him high praise. When the number of misdemeanors is down, the Lord is pleased; when the number of felonies declines, he receives that as a prayer. When you appear before the Lord, don’t come empty-handed; by following God’s life-maps, you are bringing a gift. The altars of the just groan under their many offerings; their sacrifices give off a heavenly aroma. The good deeds of the just are welcomed by the Lord; he won’t forget who gave what.
Open your good eye if you want to give glory to the Lord. Don’t downsize your offerings; they should be the firstfruits from your land. Every time you give a gift, do it with a smile; don’t be a grouch when you turn in your tithes. Give to the Most High a good portion of what he’s given you; open your heart and give what you can afford. Do the Lord a favor and give him the gifts he deserves; he’ll return the favor seven times over.

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

Prayer

Lord our God,
we hold you to your promise
to those who have left everything
for the sake of your kingdom
and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, your Son.
Let them be men and women
poor in the things that count on this earth,
but rich with your love and your grace
and with a wealth of friends
to whom they can bring
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.