TODAY'S GOSPEL REFLECTION: "God's Greatest Offer"

TODAY'S GOSPEL REFLECTION: "God's Greatest Offer"

June 02, 2023. Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel

Mk 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.

He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,

went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,

he went over to see if he could find anything on it.

When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;

it was not the time for figs.

And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem,

and on entering the temple area

he began to drive out those selling and buying there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who were selling doves.

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it

and were seeking a way to put him to death,

yet they feared him

because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along,

they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!

The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it shall be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,

believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

When you stand to pray,

forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,

so that your heavenly Father may in turn

forgive you your transgressions.”

Reflection

Come and let us leave a mark of holiness. Blessed Friday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time. Whether a man dies rich or poor, there will be a definite legacy he will leave behind. Families can inherit beautiful to ugly things from our ancestors. It could be wealth or debt. It can be a treasure of friends or enemies. The message of the Gospel today is linked to this truth. One day, we will leave this temporal world and we will leave a mark of something on earth and people in our lives. It could be that we may leave traces of things that can easily disappear after death. There were many leaders in ancient times who are not remembered today. Even the reigning Kings and Queens of this era will one day be forgotten by the next generation. Although this truth is terrible, especially for people who seek a throne in this world, our Lord Jesus Christ offers us a lasting title if we are only willing to take it. God is giving us the opportunity to leave a mark on this sinful world as an instrument of God.

We know that even today, there were several thousands of saints declared by the Catholic Church venerated or given respect throughout the world. Saints are not famous due to their position in society when they were still alive, but instead, saints are known even today because live a life of humility. For example, the saints we commemorate today, San Marcelius and Saint Peter both martyrs. They were beheaded for their loyalty to Christ in the fourth century. And even more than a thousand years later since their execution, many Catholics now devote themselves to their martyrdom. They are a symbol of inspiration in believing in God even though their fate seems dire. There is a saying that, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." We are the seeds referred to by this quote. If we try to be like Saint Marcelius and Peter, we can also pass on the legacy of salvation to the souls of the next generation.

May we realize that our family is our first mission. Let us bequeath grace to our relatives and to the babies of our clan who are yet to be born. Let's strive to be holy so that the curse of sin can be broken for the sake of future generations. In the Name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen+

Reflections by: T.K.R.S

Go to USCCB website for the full readings.