Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time/B

Massimo Palombella

Today’s Gospel (Mk 10:17-30) tells of the encounter between Jesus and the person who, kneeling before him, asks him “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. This man’s question is the fundamental and decisive issue for the true quality of our lives. In fact, allowing the healthy need for meaning, for “truth” to find space in our existence is what allows us to remain “alive”, to continue to be in search and not to die inside. At every age of life, beyond our duty, beyond the effort to be upright persons, good students, correct professionals, good mothers, good fathers… there remains, if we are honest in recognising it, the need to make sense of everything, to find a point that unifies and gives meaning to every detail of our existence. At every age of life, the Lord invites each of us to “Go, sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come! Follow me!” It is our task to discern what we are to “leave” today, where we are to “follow” the Lord today. If we do not do this we will slowly die, just like a professional who, if he does not evolve and continue to study and question himself, does not remain stationary but imperceptibly slips further and further into disarming and grotesque amateurism.

Today the Lord challenges us, with the years we carry, with what we are punctually doing about the true quality of our lives. In essence, what must we leave behind today in order for our existence to serve the Truth? Where do we need go today, to “follow” the Lord in order to leave, to free ourselves from the diabolical illusion of living?

The hallelujah verse in Gregorian Chant for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 113 (Ps 113:11) with the following text:
‘Alleluia. Qui timent Dominum sperent in eo:
adiutor et protector eorum est. Alleluia.’

(Alleluia. Let those who fear the Lord put their trust in him;
he is their help and their protection. Alleluia).

The attached music is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The music track can be found on YouTube where there is no indication of interpretation.

A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.

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