Let us thank and praise God for whom all things are possible
Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 14, 2018): WIS 7:7-11; PS 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; HEB 4:12-13; MK 10:17-30
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The Gospel reading for this Sunday contains the famous passage where Jesus tells His followers that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.
“They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God’” (Mark 10:26-27). And, of course, that is the point: people cannot get into heaven on their own. We welcome salvation from God with our free will – by accepting His grace and cooperating with His divine will.
Jesus goes on to explain to Peter and the others that they will be rewarded for giving up everything for Him. But He also let’s them know that they will suffer for His sake in this world before they know the joy of heaven. We all need to understand that following the way of Christ leads to life eternal, but not because we earn it. Rather, it is God’s gracious gift to His children who have shown their love and devotion to Him and to the care and welfare of their brothers and sisters.
Suggested missionary action: Let’s think about the changes we have tried to make in our lives by handling them on our own. Instead, let us turn ourselves over to God and ask Him to help us cooperate with Him in transforming us for the better. And on this weekend before World Mission Sunday, let us prepare our hearts to support, in prayer and sacrifice, those who help transform the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Missions.
October is Mission Month.
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