The Gospel Tuesday of the 20th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 19:23. Jesus said to his disciples, amen. I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again. I say to you, 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. When disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, who then can be saved?
Jesus looked at them and said, for men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Then Peter said to him in reply, we have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us? Jesus said to them, amen. I say to you that you who have followed me in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne in glory, will yourselves sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands for the sake of My name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Jesus again makes a statement that confuses the disciples. At the time Jesus ministered to these men, it was considered that riches were a sign of the love that God had for someone. And Jesus turns it completely around by saying, the first will be last and the last will be first. He said, think of it entirely differently. And what I want you to understand is that I and the only way in which you can be saved.
I am telling you that it’s a gift, not something you earn. It’s difficult for us to believe that, but that’s the call of the Gospel. Please ponder the meaning of these scriptures. And after the music, I will close with a prayer. Sa Satan Closing prayer Father, we think a lot the way the world thinks. Would you continue to ask us to turn things around, to see them from the eyes of the kingdom of God that we’re called to establish on this planet.
So bless us with the insights that only you can share with us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.