Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 348
Reading 1SIR 35:1-12
To keep the law is a great oblation,
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one’s offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one’s sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.
For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
To keep the Commandments is a great sacrifice of obedience and is looked upon with more favor than the sacrifice of offerings or any other sort of sacrifice.and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
Observing the Commandments is an offering in itself.In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
Works of charity are works of love and the Commandments are summarized in one word, Love. Love of God and love of neighbor. To give "alms" is to help the poor and in so doing one is praising God. It is so easy for any parent to understand. I have affection for many people, but those who love my own children I hold in special regard. Anyone who loves my children, loves me, that is God's message.To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
The wicked are the enemies of God because they work evil against their neighbor and thus harm God's believed people.Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one’s offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one’s sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
Spiritually speaking, to appear before the Lord empty handed means to appear before the Lord without producing fruits of charity and love for your fellow man. In the Judgment, it is by these works that you will be judged. And these works are all recorded in the book of the Lamb. We will be judged for unthinking word we have uttered. Therefore consider well everything you say or do to make sure that you do not displease God.In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
Give freely to God and His anointed, because He is not sparing in His gifts to you.With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.
God loves a cheerful giver. And remember that we are not going to be alone when we come to the Judgment seat of Christ. Therefore make friends in temporary tents, that you may be welcomed into heavenly tents when you arrive before the Just Judge and your many friends with whom you have cheerfully shared your wealth, will intercede on your behalf and lead you into through the pearly gates.
For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
No one is more generous than God. Nor can we ever hope to repay in full all which He has already given us. But we must do our best because we are grateful.But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't by wealth or beauty but by love. Those who love most will be loved by God in return. And those who are deceitful and workers of iniquity will be repaid in kind.
Responsorial PsalmPS 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 AND 23
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Obey God and do good. Do not become tired of doing righteousness and God will bless you.
GospelMK 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.”
‘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.”
To give up everything is to put God first. When we do that, we begin to cherish even more that which God has already given us. But at that point, everything is in its rightful order. God is first and above all.
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