>> A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF SAINT PETER BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO IN HIS GREAT MERCY GAVE US A NEW BIRTH TO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, TO AN INHERITANCE THAT IS IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, AND UNFADING, KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU WHO BY THE POWER OF GOD ARE SAFEGUARDED THROUGH FAITH, TO A SALVATION THAT IS READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE FINAL TIME. IN THIS YOU REJOICE, ALTHOUGH NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE YOU MAY HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH VARIOUS TRIALS, SO THAT THE GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH, MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD THAT IS PERISHABLE EVEN THOUGH TESTED BY FIRE, MAY PROVE TO BE FOR PRAISE, GLORY, AND HONOR AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM YOU LOVE HIM; EVEN THOUGH YOU DO NOT SEE HIM NOW YET YOU BELIEVE IN HIM, YOU REJOICE WITH AN INDESCRIBABLE AND GLORIOUS JOY, AS YOU ATTAIN THE GOAL OF FAITH, THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> DEO GRATIAS ♪ >> THE LORD WILL REMEMBER HIS COVENANT FOR EVER. >> THE LORD WILL REMEMBER HIS COVENANT FOR EVER. >> I WILL GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD WITH ALL MY HEART IN THE COMPANY AND ASSEMBLY OF THE JUST. GREAT ARE THE WORKS OF THE LORD, EXQUISITE IN ALL THEIR DELIGHTS. >> THE LORD WILL REMEMBER HIS COVENANT FOR EVER. >> HE HAS GIVEN FOOD TO THOSE WHO FEAR HIM; HE WILL FOREVER BE MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT. HE HAS MADE KNOWN TO HIS PEOPLE THE POWER OF HIS WORKS, GIVING THEM THE INHERITANCE OF THE NATIONS. >> THE LORD WILL REMEMBER HIS COVENANT FOR EVER. >> HE HAS SENT DELIVERANCE TO HIS PEOPLE; HE HAS RATIFIED HIS COVENANT FOREVER; HOLY AND AWESOME IS HIS NAME. HIS PRAISE ENDURES FOREVER. >> THE LORD WILL REMEMBER HIS COVENANT FOR EVER. [ORGAN] >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ JESUS CHRIST BECAME POOR ALTHOUGH HE WAS RICH, SO THAT BY HIS POVERTY YOU MIGHT BECOME RICH ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> AS JESUS WAS SETTING OUT ON A JOURNEY, A MAN RAN UP, KNELT DOWN BEFORE HIM, AND ASKED HIM, GOOD TEACHER, WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? JESUS ANSWERED HIM, WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD? NO ONE IS GOOD BUT GOD ALONE. YOU KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS: YOU SHALL NOT KILL; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; YOU SHALL NOT DEFRAUD; HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER. HE REPLIED AND SAID TO HIM, TEACHER, ALL OF THESE I HAVE OBSERVED FROM MY YOUTH. JESUS, LOOKING AT HIM, LOVED HIM AND SAID TO HIM, YOU ARE LACKING IN ONE THING. GO, SELL WHAT YOU HAVE, AND GIVE TO THE POOR AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; THEN COME, FOLLOW ME. AT THAT STATEMENT, HIS FACE FELL, AND HE WENT AWAY SAD, FOR HE HAD MANY POSSESSIONS. JESUS LOOKED AROUND AND SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, HOW HARD IT IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WEALTH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD! THE DISCIPLES WERE AMAZED AT HIS WORDS. SO JESUS AGAIN SAID TO THEM IN REPLY, CHILDREN, HOW HARD IT IS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD! IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR ONE WHO IS RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY WERE EXCEEDINGLY ASTONISHED AND SAID AMONG THEMSELVES, THEN WHO CAN BE SAVED? JESUS LOOKED AT THEM AND SAID, FOR MEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT FOR GOD. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR GOD. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT ARE VERY ENJOYABLE. THINGS THAT WE WORK FOR, THINGS WE EARN, SUCH AS OUR DEGREES AND EDUCATION. EVEN SPORTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MUSIC. TRAVEL. THINGS WE WORK HARD FOR. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE ENGAGE IN ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES OR EVEN WHEN WE RECEIVE POSSESSIONS, WEALTH, BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD, ANYTHING TEMPORAL. IT IS NICE TO HAVE THINGS. IT IS NICE TO GO PLACES. IT IS NICE TO EARN REWARDS AND ACCOLADES. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LORD IS IN IT. BUT WE KNOW WITH ALL OF THESE TEMPORAL THINGS, THEY END. THAT THEY STOP AT SOME POINT. AND IF WE DO NOT HAVE GOD INVOLVED IN THESE TEMPORAL THINGS THAT BECOME EMPTY. THERE IS SOME LIMIT TO THEM. YOU SEE IN THE LORD AS WE JOURNEY WITH THE LORD WE ADVENTURE WITH HIM BECAUSE WE VENTURE INTO HIS LIFE. WITH JESUS, UNLIKE THE TEMPORAL THINGS, THERE IS ALWAYS MORE. IT NEVER ENDS. IT NEVER STOPS. THAT IS WHY COMES TO GIVE US LIFE. ETERNAL LIFE. THIS IS THE ABUNDANT LIFE. LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. TODAY IN THE GOSPEL PASSAGE JESUS IS SPEAKING TO A RICH YOUNG MAN. AND THE RICH YOUNG MAN HE IS PERHAPS SEARCHING. HE IS CURIOUS. HE HAS QUESTIONS. HE SEES JESUS. MAYBE HE WANTS MORE. BUT HE CANNOT GIVE HIS ALL TO HIM. JESUS SPEAKS TO US TODAY. IT IS TIME TO GIVE IT ALL. HERE AGAIN LOOKING A LITTLE DEEPER IN THE READINGS FOR TODAY HERE FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK THIS RICH YOUNG MAN, IT STARTS OUT WITH HIM RUNNING UP TO JESUS. HE IS EXCITED. HE HAS ENTHUSIASM AND HIM. AND IT APPEARS THAT HE IS FASCINATED WITH JESUS. WHEN JESUS IS GOING ABOUT DOING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, HE IS PERFORMING MIRACLES. HE IS SHOWING GREAT MERCY. HE IS SPEAKING WORDS THAT INSPIRE, THAT CONVICT, THAT TRANSFORM PEOPLE. SHOWING SUCH LOVE. AND PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT UP IN THIS. THERE ARE SOME OUT THERE WHO OF COURSE ARE TAKING IT ALL IN AND THEN THEY ARE FOLLOWING JESUS. THEY ARE READY TO GO WITH HIM. ANYWHERE HE WANTS TO GO. WE SEE THIS WITH THE DISCIPLES. BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE JUST CAUGHT UP IN THE SENSATION, THE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE OF WHAT JESUS IS DOING. THEY ARE FASCINATED JUST WITH THAT. THIS IS THE CASE HERE FOR THE RICH YOUNG MAN. HE RUNS TO HIM. IMMEDIATELY FLATTERS THE LORD. GOOD TEACHER. JESUS SAYS WAIT A MINUTE. STOP IT. RELAX HERE. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE WITH. HE KNOWS HE IS GOD. JESUS KNOWS HIMSELF. HE IS AWARE OF WHAT HE IS DOING. HE SAID DO NOT CALL ANYONE GOOD. JESUS KNOWS FLATTERY. AND HE QUESTIONS HIM. HE SAYS OKAY. YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS. YES. I HAVE DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS. THINGS THAT THE LAW OBSERVING THE LAW. YOU KNOW. HE IS NOT STEALING, BEARING FALSE WITNESS FOR EXAMPLE, BUT HE IS NOT WILLING TO GO DEEPER HERE. THAT IS WHAT JESUS IS ASKING OF HIM. HE SAID OKAY YOU HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS, NOW COME AND FOLLOW ME. GIVE UP ALL OF YOUR POSSESSIONS. YOU HAVE DONE ALL OF THAT. YES. BUT HAVE YOU GIVEN IT ALL TO ME? AND HE CANNOT DO THAT. HE SAYS WELL HE GOES WAY SAD HE PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN. HE WALKS OFF. BUT JESUS SHOWS THEM GREAT LOVE. JESUS SAYS HERE, HERE IN THE SCRIPTURES, HE SAID HE LOOKED AT HIM WITH LOVE. THE WORD LOVE HERE COMES FROM THE DEEPEST FORM OF LOVE. WHICH IS AGAPE LOVE. THAT IS ALL SACRIFICIAL. WHERE THERE IS NO SELF-INVOLVED. THERE'S A POINT OUT FOR THE GOOD OF SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS IS HOW JESUS IS GAZING UPON HIM. YET HE CANNOT SEE IT. THIS IS WHAT JESUS HAS TO OFFER. THIS IS THE ABUNDANT LIFE. THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE. HE REFUSES. HE REFUSES TO GO FURTHER. FOR US, JESUS CALLS US TO GO FURTHER. WHEN HE SAYS FOLLOW ME. YES HEY OKAY TO FOLLOW JESUS. I SAID YES TO HIM. HE CALLS US TO TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY. BUT THERE OFTEN TIMES WHEN WE MAY PUT LIMITS ON THIS. WE SAY WILL I WILL ONLY GO SO FAR. I WILL STOP AT THIS POINT. I WILL HOLD BACK, WHETHER IT'S CHARITY, HUMILITY OR GIVING OURSELVES OVER TO MORE PRAYER, MORE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES. ENGAGING IN DEEPER DEVOTIONS. OKAY YES. WE NEED TO HAVE BALANCE. WE HAVE TO GET REST. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT JESUS 1ST AND FOREMOST WANTS US HERE HE WANTS THE HEART. HE WANTS US TO GIVE ALL OF OURSELVES TO HIM. HOLDING NOTHING BACK. YOU SEE WE STOP OFTEN TIMES WITH WHEN OUR DEVOTION, OUR FAITH IT IS JUST SORT OF AN EXTERIOR OR AN EMOTIONAL EXTERIOR EXPERIENCE. WE ARE FASCINATED IN ALL DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF GOODS OUT THERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT. BUT WE CANNOT LIMIT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD JUST TO AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES AND HOW WE FEEL AND JUST INSPIRATION ALL THE TIME. JESUS WISHES TO TAKE US DEEPER. HE WANTS US TO GO FURTHER IN HIM. AND WE HOLD BACK. WE SAY WELL I DO NOT KNOW. WE LIKE, IT IS GOOD TO FEEL GOOD. EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL GOOD. SOMETIMES THE LORD WANTS TO TAKE US INTO THE DESERT. HE WANTS US TO GO WITH HIM INTO THE DARK PLACES. THAT CAN BE SCARY. THAT COMES OFTEN IN ACCEPTING SUFFERING. AND ACCEPTING WHATEVER THE LORD WILL BRING OUR WAY. YOU SEE THEN WE NEED TO DEVELOP A SPIRIT THAT IS SACRIFICIAL. THAT IS WILLING TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH THE LORD. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT HERE IN THE SCRIPTURES WE SEE THE LIFE OF JESUS VERY VIVIDLY. WE SEE HIM GOING JUST LOVING. HE IS SHOWING US HOW TO LIVE AND LOVE. HE IS SHOWING US HOW TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN. HOW TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD WHERE THERE IS EVIL AND SIN. AND TO FOLLOW HIM MEANS TO FOLLOW HIM AND TO IMITATE HIM. TO DO WHAT HE IS CALLING US TO DO. AND TO MAKE HIS LIFE OUR OWN. THIS WHEN WE DO THIS, WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS THIS MAKES OUR LIFE WITH HIM MUCH MORE INTIMATE. THAT IS WHY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SUCH A HOLY ST. THAT HE ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE THE LIFE OF JESUS HIS OWN. SO HE STRIVED TO LIVE THE SCRIPTURES, THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH AND MAKE IT HIS OWN. THAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WANTED. ST. PAUL TELLS US THE SAME THING. IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3 HE IS SPEAKING ABOUT YES I WANT TO THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. I'M STRIVING TO LIVE IT. EVEN IF IT THAT MEANS SUFFERING. AND THEN BEING RAISED WITH JESUS CHRIST. HE SAYS THAT YOU KNOW NOT THAT I HAVE EVEN MADE IT ON MY OWN BUT THE ONE THING THAT I DO IS STRIVING TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND. GIVING IT ALL TO THE LORD. IN GOING AFTER HIM WHO IS MY HIGH PRIZE, JESUS CHRIST. THAT IS THE TYPE OF BURNING MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION THAT WE NEED. SO MAKE THIS LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST OUR OWN. BECAUSE HERE AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER THERE IS ALWAYS MORE. THERE IS MORE LOVE AND SO WHEN WE ENTER INTO THE TIMES OF DARKNESS, OF DRYNESS, THIS IS A DARKNESS AND DRYNESS OF JESUS CHRIST. WHAT IS HE TEACHING US THROUGH THIS? HE IS TEACHING US ABOUT HIMSELF. AND IN TEACHING US ABOUT HIMSELF HE IS TEACHING US HOW TO LOVE LIKE HIM. HE IS SHOWING US HIS TRUTH. SO BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE WE ARE GOING INTO LENT. JUST A FEW MORE DAYS BEFORE IT STARTS. AND I KNOW PROBABLY YOU ARE ALREADY PRAYING ABOUT IT AND YOU SHOULD. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? YES WE HAVE TO GIVE UP THINGS. BUT WHAT ABOUT MY HEART? IS MY HEART WILLING TO ALL THINGS FOR JESUS CHRIST? WHAT IS HOLY ME BACK? THIS THE THINGS WE SACRIFICE THEY HELP, BUT WHAT IS IT HERE? YOU KNOW. HOW CAN I GO DEEPER INTO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD? AM I LIKING CHARITY, MERCY OR HUMILITY? THAT IS 1ST AND FOREMOST WHAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON. THIS IS TRUE CONFORMITY TO JESUS CHRIST TO LIVE LIKE THAT. TO GIVE IT ALL TO HIM AND TO NOT HOLD BACK. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DO SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE CHARITABLE LIKE JESUS, MORE MERCIFUL, MORE HUMBLE LIKE HIM. SO WE LOOK AT THIS AND SAY HEY FATHER, THAT SOUNDS VERY DIFFICULT HERE. GIVING OF OURSELVES. BEING LIKE JESUS. BUT REMEMBER HERE WE HEAR ABOUT JESUS WHO LOOKED ON THIS YOUNG MAN WITH A LOVE UNCONDITIONAL AGAPE LOVE, AND THAT IS HOW HE LOOKS TO US. HE WANTS TO GIVE US EVERYTHING. HE WANTS TO GIVE THIS YOUNG MAN EVERYTHING BUT HE REFUSED. YOU SEE ONE THING THIS YOUNG MAN LACKED IS THAT YES HE KNEW THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM BUT WHAT HE DID NOT DO AS HE DID NOT TURN TO JESUS AND SEE HIM LOVING HIM AND SAY LORD, HELP ME. LORD, SHOW ME HOW. SO WHAT WAS MISSING? PRAYER. AS WE GO THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IT IS A PROCESS. AND JESUS IS THERE WITH US BY OUR SIDE. TO HELP US. HE KNOWS IT IS DIFFICULT TO LIVE IN THIS LIFE. THAT IS WHY HE SAYS I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS. THAT IS WHY HE POURS HIS SPIRIT INTO US TO HELP US. TO REMIND US, TO WALK BESIDE OF US. AND HE IS PATIENT. REMEMBER THIS IS A PROCESS HERE. BUT WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY JESUS CHRIST. REMEMBER HE IS GENTLE. MERCIFUL. WHEN WE SLIP UP THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE TO HELP US UP. TO GET US BACK ON OUR WAY. SO AS WE GO FORWARD IN LENT AS WE GO FORWARD IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE THE THINGS THAT MAY SEEM TOO DIFFICULT, ENTERING THE DARKNESS, THE DRYNESS AND PUTTING THINGS BEHIND US IN GOING FORWARD WITH THE LORD. IT MAY SEEM IMPOSSIBLE. HE SHOWS US TODAY ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD, FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE LORD. AND IT BEGINS WITH KNOWING WE ARE LOVED BY HIM. KNOWING THAT HE GAZES UPON US AND LOOKS INTO OUR SOULS AND SEES THE GOOD IN US AND HE SEES WHAT WE CAN BECOME AND HE WANTS TO GIVE US ALL THINGS, AND OUR RESPONSE IS LOVE IN RETURN, AND THAT IS OUR PRAYER. GIVE IT ALL TO JESUS BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN IT ALL TO US. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
