THE DAILY GOSPEL

May 26, 2015 (Tuesday) Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 & 23 To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

8th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4/(Green/White)

St. Philip Neri, priest

1st Reading: Sir 35:1-12

Keeping the Law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering.

Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.

Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement.

Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands. The commandment requires that you bring an offering.

When the offering of the righteous is burned on the altar, the fat drips down and a fragrant aroma rises to the Most High.

The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be forgotten. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.

Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly.

Give to the Most High as he has given to you; give generously to the Lord according to what you have; the Lord will repay, he will reward you sevenfold.

If you attempt to bribe him with gifts he will not accept them; do not rely on offerings from dishonest gain.

The Lord is judge and shows no partiality. Gospel: Mk 10:28-31

Peter spoke up and said, “We have given up everything to follow you.” Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: Even in the midst of persecution, he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time, and in the world to come eternal life. Do pay attention: Many who now are the first will be last, and the last, first.” Reflection:

The Durers of Nuremberg were poor and their father was hardworking. Albrecht Durer, the oldest son, went to Venice, while Albert worked with his hands in the coal mines and helped his brother financially. After his graduation, Albrecht told Albert he can study now and would support him. Albert said, “Look what the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed, my arthritic right hand prevents me from holding a glass to return your toast, and much less I can’t draw lines on canvas. No, brother, for me it is too late.”

To honor Albert for his great sacrifice, Albrecht lovingly drew his brother’s hands with palms and fingers stretched skyward in prayer. He called his phenomenal art “Hands,” (The Praying Hands).

The eyes are the soul’s windows and hands express the soul. “Dear God, I am so afraid to open my clenched fists … Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands? Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me.” (H. Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life)

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