First Reading: Sirach 17:20-24
To the penitent, God provides a way back; He encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth. Return to Him and give up sin; pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin; hate intensely what He loathes, and know the justice and judgments of God. Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
Response: Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time of distress; in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
Gospel: Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'”
And he said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus, looking upon him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” At that saying, his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
