YOU ARE NOT FAR FROM GOD'S KINGDOM

'Let him who is wise understand these things'

First Reading Hosea 14:2-10  A call to conversion and promise of safety

Thus says the Lord: Return, o Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the Lord. Say to him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount. We shall say no more, ‘Our god’, to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion».

I will heal their defection, says the Lord, «I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; they shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. I am like a verdant cypress tree, because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Gospel Mark 12:28-34 'You are not far from the kingdom of God'

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’ The scribe said to him, ‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to question him any more.

My Father, my God, I am truly sorry for all my sins. Forgive me, Father. Give me wisdom, that I may understand the depth of your mercy and love. Lord Jesus, I trust in you. I love you Lord, with your grace I love my fellow creatures. Virgin Mary, pray for me. Saint Joseph, pray for me. My angel guardian, pray for me. Pray the Rosary.

AELF  TU N’ES PAS LOIN DU ROYAUME DE DIEU

« Que celui qui est sage comprenne ces choses »

Évangile Marc 12, 28b-34 « Tu n’es pas loin du royaume de Dieu. »

En ce temps-là, un scribe s’avança vers Jésus pour lui demander : « Quel est le premier de tous les commandements ? » Jésus lui fit cette réponse : « Voici le premier : Écoute, Israël : le Seigneur notre Dieu est l’unique Seigneur. Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton cœur, de toute ton âme, de tout ton esprit et de toute ta force. Et voici le second : Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même. Il n’y a pas de commandement plus grand que ceux-là. » Le scribe reprit : « Fort bien, Maître, tu as dit vrai : Dieu est l’Unique et il n’y en a pas d’autre que lui. L’aimer de tout son cœur, de toute son intelligence, de toute sa force, et aimer son prochain comme soi-même, vaut mieux que toute offrande d’holocaustes et de sacrifices. » Jésus, voyant qu’il avait fait une remarque judicieuse, lui dit : « Tu n’es pas loin du royaume de Dieu. » Et personne n’osait plus l’interroger.

Mon Père, mon Dieu, je regrette sincèrement tous mes péchés. Pardonne-moi, Père. Donne-moi la sagesse, afin que je comprenne la profondeur de ta miséricorde et de ton amour. Seigneur Jésus, j'ai confiance en toi. Je t'aime, Seigneur, et par ta grâce, j'aime mon prochain. Vierge Marie, priez pour moi. Saint Joseph, priez pour moi. Mon ange gardien, priez pour moi.