WSC Reflection Guide 10/13-19/2024

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide

– 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: Following God’s will leads us to the glory of His Kingdom.

Theme: We are led to God’s Kingdom when we  selflessly share our gifts and blessings with others.

Promise: “...give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Mk 10:21b)

Reflection:

To live and survive in this world we must toil according to our capacity and capabilities by using our God-given talents. We acquire for our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, and, if there is more, we save them for a “rainy day.” Some build a fortune and are able to accumulate wealth through investment and profitable businesses. As long as one is conscientious and prudent, he can live a comfortable life and would still have much excess to share with those who have less in life. The point of Jesus for the rich man is about sharing, to “give to the poor” (Mk 10:21). The rich have the capacity to render charity work and commit to help people who are marginalized. Amidst all accumulation of wealth, one must not neglect his soul, for what profit is there to gain the whole world but loses his soul in the process?

Jesus directs us not to be attached to our worldly life because true happiness and fulfilment can only be found by following Him in the path towards His Kingdom. He is the “way, the truth and the life.” Sadly, many find it difficult to pay attention to God’s wisdom by being too preoccupied with increasing their wealth, earning adulations for being popular, and becoming more powerful. And they neglect to realize that all of what they have gained comes from the divine providence of God, and that they are given the opportunity to be grateful by sharing what they have with the deprived and poor people of society. For these kinds of people, Jesus warns that unshared wealth and attachment to it will become their downfall, and it will be impossible for them “to enter the kingdom of God.”

By an act of deep faith in God, some may be able to respond radically to the call of Jesus by leaving everything behind – loved ones, properties, and worldly opportunities and dedicate their life to serve God. Others serve the Lord by helping the Church financially through contributions or rendering voluntary service urgently needed in the Church. Some true philanthropists take on various advocacies to avert world hunger, disasters and save Mother Earth.  

Jesus makes this solemn declaration: “I assure you that he who leaves everything to follow me will have eternal life in the age to come and a hundred times more now in this present age,” (cf. Mk 10:29-30).  Pope Francis re-echoes these words today: “We deprive ourselves of goods and receive in exchange the joy of the true good; we free ourselves from slavery to things and we win the liberty of service out of love; we renounce possessing and we attain the happiness of giving.”  About which Jesus says – “There is more joy in giving than receiving,” (cf. Acts 20:35). The rich young man did not allow himself to be conquered by the loving gaze of Jesus and thus, he was not able to change. In fact, he “went away sad.”  

The Lord is inviting us to be poor, to live with and serve the poor; then the treasure of Heaven will be ours. In His promise, he says:  “…give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Mk 10:21b).  Unlike the rich young man, we can be with Jesus and be His true followers, rejoicing and anticipating our true treasure of eternal life in heaven, when we are mindful of sharing our blessings and our gifts with those who are in need.

Prayer:

Father God, we ask You to instill in us a generous heart, a heart that is willing to serve even the poorest of the poor. Grant us the grace to give our yes to You every day and to put You first before other things on this earth. Help us to use our time, talent and treasure always in the service of You and Your people. Grant us integrity of heart and in our inmost being, teach us wisdom that we may always walk in Your truth. Take us by the hand and fulfill in us your Divine pleasure. In the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

Reflection Guide Questions:

1. What are my priorities in life? Am I able to let go of my priorities in order to follow God’s will for my life?

2. Am I grateful to God for everything through acts of charity? In what way can I be generous in sharing my blessings to others?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

Oct 13, 2024 (Sun) – Wis 7:7-11/ Ps 90:12-17/ Heb 4:12, 13/ Mk 10:17-30

Oct 14, 2024 (Mon – Gal 4:22-24, 36, 27, 31-5:1/ Ps 113:1-7/ Lk 11:29-32

Oct 15, 2024 (Tue) – Gal 5:1-6/ Ps 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48/ Lk 11:37-41

Oct 16, 2024 (Wed) – Gal 5:18-25/ Ps 1-4, 6/ Lk 11:42-44

Oct 17, 2024 (Thu) – Eph 1:1-10/ Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6/ Lk 11:47-54

Oct 18, 2024 (Fri) – 2 Tm 4:10-17/ Ps 148:10-13, 17, 18/ Lk 10:1-9

Oct 19, 2024 (Sat) – Eph 1:15-23/ Ps 8:2-7/ Lk 12:8-12

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”