Daily Mass Readings – Monday, 21 August 2028

15 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

16 Son of man, behold I take from thee the desire of thy eyes with a stroke: and thou shalt not lament, nor weep: neither shall thy tears run down.

17 Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead: let the tire of thy head be upon thee, and thy shoes on thy feet, and cover not thy face, nor eat the meat of mourners.

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening: and I did in the morning as he had commanded me.

19 And the people said to me: Why dost thou not tell us what these things mean that thou doest?

20 And I said to them: The word of the Lord came to me, saying:

21 Speak to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will profane my sanctuary, the glory of your realm, and the thing that your eyes desire, and for which your soul feareth: your sons, and your daughters, whom you have left, shall fall by the sword.

22 And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your faces, nor shall you eat the meat of mourners.

23 You shall have crowns on your heads, and shoes on your feet: you shall not lament nor weep, but you shall pine away for your iniquities, and every one shall sigh with his brother.

R. (18a) You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

18 Thou hast forsaken the God that beget thee, and hast forgotten the Lord that created thee.

19 The Lord saw, and was moved to wrath: because his own sons and daughters provoked him.

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

20 And he said: I will hide my face from them, and will consider what their last end shall be: for it is a perverse generation, and unfaithful children.

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

21 They have provoked me with that which was no god, and have angered me with their vanities: and I will provoke them with that which is no people, and will vex them with a foolish nation.

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

16 And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?

17 Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?

21 Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.

22 And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions.

The word spoken through Ezekiel and the psalm’s refrain expose the sorrow of forgetting God who gave us life. Israel’s sin is not simply breaking rules; it is turning away from the One who created and sustained them, giving their trust to what cannot save. Against this background, the young man in the Gospel appears faithful and disciplined. Yet Jesus sees that his possessions have become the place where his heart is anchored. His sadness reveals how difficult it is to release what we own when it has begun to own us.

Jesus does not dismiss the commandments. He leads the young man beyond outward observance into freedom: give to the poor, receive treasure in heaven, and follow him. The poverty of spirit proclaimed in the Gospel is a heart that remembers its dependence on God. We can ask honestly what makes us anxious to let go—wealth, control, reputation, or security—and place it before Christ. Remembering that God is our giver makes generosity possible. His call may require a concrete act of sharing, simplicity, or trust, so that our possessions serve love rather than replace the Lord.

Lord God, you are the giver of life, yet I often cling to created things as though they could secure my future. Keep me from forgetting you or allowing possessions, comfort, or control to become my false gods. Give me a poor and humble heart, grateful for what I receive and ready to share it with those in need. Show me the attachment that keeps me from following Jesus freely. Grant me courage to obey his word, compassion toward the poor, and trust in the treasure you promise in heaven. May my life remember and honor you. Amen.