Matthew 19,16-22

August 21, 2023 (Monday)
Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 19,16-22
Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he
said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter
into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder;
You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father
and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all
these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give
the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Reflection:
Jesus reminds us in John 10:10, that he has come so that we may have life in all its fullness. The rich
young man in today’s Gospel story is seeking this fullness of life and asks Jesus what he has to do to
attain it. Jesus response is simple and to the point, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
In the time of Jesus observant Jews followed 613 commandments. The young man was diligent in keeping
these. However, Jesus wanted to stretch the commitment of the young man and challenged him to give up
all his possessions if he wanted to be truly perfect. At this point in time the young man was unable to do
this. Is there anything our own lives that holds us back from fully committing the ministry teaching that has
been entrusted to us? Thankful today we do not have the weight of the 613 commandments to carry.
Jesus summarised the 613 commandments into one, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (Br. George
Van Grieken, FSC)

Lasallian Guiding Principle:
LGP states that the spirit of faith is a “spirit that allows one to judge and evaluate things in the light of the
gospel.” The reason why our founder St. John Baptist De La Salle became happy during his time is
because he invested not on the riches of the world but on the riches of loving service to the poor. He
followed Jesus with a light heart and free spirit for his great possessions are the smiles of the young
people who received free human and Christian education. May all lasallians continue to follow our
founder’s examples. (Neil Stephen G. Benter)

Prayer:
Synod on Synodality Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, Make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sources:
C. (n.d.). Daily Gospel. Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://dailygospel.org/M/AM/DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU IRPA. (n.d.). Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family.
Retrieved June 22, 2020, from http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/inside/lasallian-guiding-principles/default.asp

Prepared by Pratik, Sati D., College of Humanities and Sciences- BS Biochemistry Student, through the DLSMHSI Lasallian Mission and Linkages and Advancement, Campus Ministry, and Chaplaincy

Our Daily Lasallian Gospel, Prayer and Reflection is a DLSMHSI gift to the Lasallian family for the 2019 Celebration of the Year of Vocation and the Tercentenary celebration of the death of our founder SJBDLS.

https://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/daily-lasallian-reflection-prayer #300LaSalle