“Para sa tawo indi ini mahimo, pero para sa Dios mahimo ini tanan”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 19:23-30)

Martes (Agosto 20)

Gani si Jesus nagsiling sa iya mga gintuton-an, “Nagasiling ako sa inyo nga mabudlay para sa isa ka manggaranon ang pagsulod sa Ginharian sang langit.

Nagasiling pa gid ako sa inyo nga mas mabudlay para sa isa ka manggaranon ang pagsulod sa Ginharian sang Dios sang sa isa ka kamelyo nga maglusot sa buho sang dagom.”

Sang pagkabati sini sang mga gintuton-an natingala gid sila. Nagpamangkot sila, “Kon amo ina, sin-o na lang bala ang maluwas?” 

Gintulok sila ni Jesus sing wala pulopamisok kag ginsabat, “Para sa tawo indi ini mahimo, pero para sa Dios mahimo ini tanan.” 

Dayon si Pedro nagsiling, “Tan-awa bala, ginbayaan namon ang tanan kag nagsunod sa imo. Ano bala ang amon makuha?” 

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, “Tandai ninyo ini! Kon ang Anak sang Tawo maglingkod na sa iya mahimayaon nga trono, sa Bag-o nga Panahon, dayon kamo nga dose nga nagsunod sa akon magalingkod man sa inyo mga trono sa paghukom sa dose ka tribo sang Israel. 

Ang tagsatagsa nga nagbiya sang iya mga balay, mga utod nga lalaki, mga utod nga babayi, amay, iloy, kabataan, ukon mga duta bangod sa akon, magabaton sing ginatos pa ka pilo, kag magapanubli sang kabuhi nga walay katapusan.

Pero madamo karon nga nahauna nga maulihi, kag madamo nga mga ulihi nga mauna.”

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and opened to us the treasures of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight and may nothing else keep me from giving you my all."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Was Jesus really against wealth (Matthew 19:23)? And why did he issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well as to the rest of us who desire to be rich)? We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per se, nor was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were well-to-do, including some notorious tax collectors! One even became an apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the wisdom of the Old Testament: "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways" (Proverbs 28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist" (Proverbs 23:4). Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the largest animal in Palestine. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travellers when the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized man had to "lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to kneel and crawl through it.

Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelations 3:17). Wealth can also lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They also neglected to serve God. The Scriptures give us a paradox: we lose what we keep and we gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in eternity (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us to this earth unless we guard our hearts and set our treasure in God and his everlasting kingdom. Where is your treasure?