Spiritual Life of the Last

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live with holiness and mutual love when it is often the last practice when blinded by the prosperity myth.

As the Last will be First

The Reading from the First Letter of Peter proclaims the call of God’s people to holiness and to mutual love.

* [1:10–12] The Spirit of Christ (1 Pt 1:11) is here shown to have been present in the prophets, moving them to search, investigate, and prophesy about the grace of salvation that was to come (1 Pt 1:10), and in the apostles impelling them to preach the fulfillment of salvation in the message of Christ’s sufferings and glory (1 Pt 1:12).

* [1:13–25] These verses are concerned with the call of God’s people to holiness and to mutual love by reason of their redemption through the blood of Christ (1 Pt 1:18–21).

* [1:13] Gird up the loins of your mind: a figure reminiscent of the rite of Passover when the Israelites were in flight from their oppressors (Ex 12:11), and also suggesting the vigilance of the Christian people in expectation of the parousia of Christ (Lk 12:35).

* [1:14–16] The ignorance here referred to (1 Pt 1:14) was their former lack of knowledge of God, leading inevitably to godless conduct. Holiness (1 Pt 1:15–16), on the contrary, is the result of their call to the knowledge and love of God. (1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 98 extolls God for Israel’s victory

* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the priorities of the “first”.

Mark 10.31 But many that are first will be last, and [the] last will be first.”  (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, reflects on the words of Jesus: “There is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more.”

Does not spiritual freedom come by surrendering our need to control our situations? Perhaps a good example is the act of forgiveness. There are people who suffer not because they have done wrong, but because they have been wronged, and they find it extremely difficult to forgive. In most cases, while it is easy to be forgiven, forgiving others is rather difficult. However, the grace to forgive brings great peace and frees us from bitterness. Peace is a hundredfold better than the false sweetness of revenge.

The reality of following Christ is always filled with abundance, even in seemingly hopeless situations. There is always more to receive in our giving: A hundredfold profit by investing ourselves in Christ. (Meze, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:28-31 notes the reaction to Jesus’ words about how hard it can be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  Peter told Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). You can hear him asking himself, “What’s the use? We’re just poor fishermen; will we receive anything in return for following Jesus?”

Jesus’ response is as clear as it is amazing: they will receive “a hundred times more” in this life (Mark 10:30). God will bless them all overabundantly for everything they have given up.

If you make these offerings, big or small, Jesus will take them and use them to build his Church. You can’t multiply them by yourself, but he can. As you unite your acts of generosity and selflessness with the Lord, they will reach much further than they ever could without him. They will change hearts, heal wounds, and restore dignity. You may not always see the results, but you can trust that Jesus is ready to do great things through you!

“Lord, I offer all my actions, words, and thoughts to you today. Help me to do your will!” (Meditation on Mark 10:28-31, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 1 Peter speaks of the prophets who had foretold Jesus was part of God’s plan. The people now too should live a life of obedience seeking to be “Holy as God is Holy”  We are consecrated to the things of God. The reward concerns Peter, and Friar Jude cautions about adopting a Gospel of Prosperity as this is not what Jesus means. Friar Jude proclaims they will be living proudly as joyful people who celebrate everything like Francis of Assisi. We will live profoundly in our joys and sorrows by living with Jesus.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Feminist theologian Rebecca Button Pritchard who describes how the Spirit accompanies our embodiment. Recognizing how the Spirit lives, moves, and breathes in our bodies allows us to live a wholehearted, courageous faith:

True spirituality, embodied spirituality, may be described as wholeheartedness, as the integration of body and spirit, of nephesh and basar, of heart and soul. It is with this wholeheartedness that we hear and follow God’s voice; it is wholeheartedly that we find the words to cry out to God, to sing praise, to speak a prophetic word, a comforting word, to tell our stories, and to make sense of all our relationships. 

Wholehearted spirituality in the freedom of the Spirit gives us courage, courage to bear witness to God’s grace against all odds, courage to speak despite efforts to silence us, courage to act authentically and in ways that encourage and empower the weak and the vulnerable. The Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truthful moments, to bring both suspicion and trust to the interpretation of both past and present. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the insight of the Spirit as we apply Jesus' proclamation of reversal of fortune in our action to support the lives of the “last” in our societal priorities.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?28 

Meditation on Mark 10:28-31. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/26/1578480/ 

Meze, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-26-2026 

1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/1?10 

Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-spirit-given-voice/ 

Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to revive our practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to open our hearts to the inspiration of the Spirit to see and act for the wellbeing of all God’s Creation.

Sharing and Caring

In the Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul challenges the community to Godlike generosity.

* [9:8–10] The behavior to which he exhorts them is grounded in God’s own pattern of behavior. God is capable of overwhelming generosity, as scripture itself attests (2 Cor 9:9), so that they need not fear being short. He will provide in abundance, both supplying their natural needs and increasing their righteousness. Paul challenges them to godlike generosity and reminds them of the fundamental motive for encouragement: God himself cannot be outdone. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 112 details the blessings received by those who remain close to God.

* [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111. (Psalms, PSALM 112 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Teaches About Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting.

* [6:1–18] The sermon continues with a warning against doing good in order to be seen and gives three examples, almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18). In each, the conduct of the hypocrites (Mt 6:2) is contrasted with that demanded of the disciples. The sayings about reward found here and elsewhere (Mt 5:12, 46; 10:41–42) show that this is a genuine element of Christian moral exhortation. Possibly to underline the difference between the Christian idea of reward and that of the hypocrites, the evangelist uses two different Greek verbs to express the rewarding of the disciples and that of the hypocrites; in the latter case it is the verb apechō, a commercial term for giving a receipt for what has been paid in full (Mt 6:2, 5, 16). (Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Greg Dyche shares his thoughts “I’ll give him all I can if he works for it.” I know it sounds ridicu­lous, but I sense this kind of log­ic in the pros­per­i­ty gospel so com­mon today, “Give until it hurts, and God will repay you many times over.”

Once I was clear­ly moved to help a home­less man. I knew this man over a few weeks, and he could use some help. I hes­i­tat­ed. What if he asked to take a show­er in my house? What if he want­ed to spend time with me? I was afraid. I knew what I had to do, and I want­ed to act. I final­ly asked if I could help him. He said I could. He real­ly want­ed a pack of mark­ers. He didn’t like to beg, and if he had some mark­ers, he could make art to sell in the park. That was it. He nev­er asked for help again. 

How did God repay me for the mark­ers? Like the ear­ly church lead­ers, I don’t think the scrip­ture is talk­ing about mon­ey. God did repay me in virtue. I was less afraid for a while. I’m sur­prised how eas­i­ly I can fall back into my old ways of self­ish­ness and fear. 

How do I dust off when I real­ize I’ve slipped back into my old habits? I start with a prayer of grat­i­tude. I real­ize what I want to do, and I “must do as already deter­mined, with­out sad­ness or com­pul­sion, for God loves a cheer­ful giv­er.” Since it’s between God and me, I don’t need to con­sid­er progress or com­par­i­son. I just need to trust and act. God repays me in virtue and faith through practice. (Dyche, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Pray with the angels,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"When you pray, it is as if you were entering into a palace - not a palace on earth, but far more awesome, a palace in heaven. When you enter there, you do so with complete attentiveness and fitting respect. For in the houses of kings all turmoil is set aside, and silence reigns. Yet here you are being joined by choirs of angels. You are in communion with archangels and singing with the seraphim, who sing with great awe their spiritual hymns and sacred songs to God, the Lord of all. So when you are praying, mingle with these voices, patterning yourself according to their mystical order. It is not to human beings that you are praying but to God, who is present everywhere, who hears even before you speak and who knows already the secrets of the heart. If you pray to this One, you shall receive a great reward. 'For your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.' He did not merely say he would give it to you but reward you, as if he himself had made a pledge to you and so honored you with a great honor. Because God himself is hidden, your prayer should be hidden." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 19.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 comments that what Paul said about the collection we can easily apply to our life of discipleship. The seed we have is the seed of the gospel message, and that’s the most powerful and most life-giving seed the world has ever known. There’s no such thing as waste when we sow this seed. Whether it’s in acts of service, in sharing our faith, in prayers of intercession, or in giving to the poor, we can be confident that your seeds will do what all seeds do—grow and bear fruit.

So sow generously! Give from the abundance the Lord has given you: your money, your time, and your talents. Every time you do, you’ll be revealing God’s merciful love to someone who needs it.

“Thank you, Lord, for calling me to sow seeds of the gospel!” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that in 2 Corinthians, Paul is taking up a collection for the poor in Judea. Paul encourages generosity from people a bit better off economically to recognize their God given excess. Turtulian is reputed to have declared that  “excess wealth is robbed from the poor.” Jewish people prior to the loss of the Temple realized that sin brought death and the blood of the animal was a kind of life transfusion. The response of rabbis was that prayer, fasting and almsgiving would replace blood sacrifices. Jesus asserts humility and lack of ostentation as we give alms anonymously, and pray not to be seen. When we may put our light on display depends on our motivation. Friar Jude recognizes that fasting can be miserable and he urges us to avoid complaint. As we act to remove food as the center of our focus, fasting can redirect us.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces mystic and theologian Howard Thurman (1899–1981) who writes of faith as the most secure foundation for joy.

There are still others who find their joy deep in the heart of their religious experience. It is not related to, dependent upon, or derived from, any circumstances or conditions in the midst of which they must live. It is a joy independent of all vicissitudes. There is a strange quality of awe in their joy, that is but a reflection of the deep calm water of the spirit out of which it comes. It is primarily a discovery of the soul, when God makes known [God’s] presence, where there are no words, no outward song, only the Divine Movement. This is the joy that the world cannot give. This is the joy that keeps watch against all the emissaries of sadness of mind and weariness of soul. This is the joy that comforts and is the companion, as we walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. [1] 

We ask the Spirit to enliven our generosity as we follow Jesus’ instructions regarding prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as actions to open our hearts and help address the needs of the people we encounter on our journey.

References

Dyche, G. (2025, June 18). Daily Reflection June 18, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-18-2025 

Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?1 

Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/18/1308464/ 

Psalms, PSALM 112 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). What Is the Source of Your Joy? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/what-is-the-source-of-your-joy/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun18 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/9?6 

Working in Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the message of truth, love, and compassion from Christ is counter cultural and likely to draw us into persecution by the powers of the world.

Prayer and Persecution

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, he denounces his persecutors.

* [20:7] You seduced me: Jeremiah accuses the Lord of having deceived him; cf. 15:18. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

 

Psalm 18 is a Royal Thanksgiving for Victory.

* [Psalm 18] A royal thanksgiving for a military victory, duplicated in 2 Sm 22. Thanksgiving Psalms are in essence reports of divine rescue. The Psalm has two parallel reports of rescue, the first told from a heavenly perspective (Ps 18:5–20), and the second from an earthly perspective (Ps 18:36–46). The first report adapts old mythic language of a cosmic battle between sea and rainstorm in order to depict God’s rescue of the Israelite king from his enemies. Each report has a short hymnic introduction (Ps 18:2–4, 32–36) and conclusion (Ps 18:21–31, 47–50). (Psalms, PSALM 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus  implores the Pharisees to believe the works.

* [10:34] This is a reference to the judges of Israel who, since they exercised the divine prerogative to judge (Dt 1:17), were called “gods”; cf. Ex 21:6, besides Ps 82:6 from which the quotation comes.

* [10:36] Consecrated: this may be a reference to the rededicated altar at the Hanukkah feast; see note on Jn 10:22. (John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

George Butterfield comments that Jeremiah has a thing or two to say to those Prosperity Gospel preachers. Everything will be just rosy, if you trust in God.

Whenever I think of Jeremiah I am reminded of the prosperity Gospel. If you trust in God, you will be healthy and wealthy. Jeremiah trusted in God, and it got him nothing but misery. Of God, Jeremiah says, “he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” Jeremiah was found to be telling the truth. The nation fell to the Babylonians. Almost everyone but the poorest were carted off to Babylon. You would think that Jeremiah would be celebrated as a true prophet of the Lord. Well, against his advice, the people in the land fled to Egypt and forced Jeremiah to go with them. Eventually they couldn’t handle the truth, so they killed him. Healthy and wealthy? No – dead! (Butterfield, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The sacrifice of Christ,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than to accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 10:31-42 comments that we have our own plans and ideas for how life ought to be or how our prayers ought to be answered. And when those plans or ideas don’t come to fruition, it can cause us to stumble. Maybe it’s a job that falls through, a loved one who dies suddenly, or a relationship that begins to crumble. Despite all the good things we have received from our Father, doubt can creep in. We fail to see Jesus, who stands with us faithfully through the good and the bad.

But what if, in these moments, we paused and asked, “I know what I want in this situation, but how is God working here? Where is Jesus trying to meet me?” What if we asked the Lord to open our eyes and help us see his presence in all things and in all of our circumstances? When we let go of our tight grip on what we think God ought to be doing, we make room for his Spirit to surprise us and show us how he is already at work.

You can be confident that Jesus is with you and working in your life, even when you can’t see how. He is your rock and fortress (Psalm 18:3). Today, ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of renewed sight. Ask him to remove the blinders of your expectations. He will help you to see more clearly. And he will move you to rejoice in the ways he is already present and working.

“Lord, open my eyes to your works and your presence with me!” (Meditation on John 10:31-42, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the spiritual difficulty expressed by Jeremiah as he ponders that the consequence of attending to God’s Plan has brought him to calls for his death as a traitor. The dialogue of Jesus with the Pharisees reveals the difference between the prophet or hero “Son of God” and the metaphysical Son that Jesus declares for Himself. Friar Jude reminds us of the declaration of the Baptist that Jesus is the true “Lamb” and “servant” of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and podcaster Cassidy Hall who explores the desert as a metaphor for difficult times in our lives. Through desert experiences, we learn to care more deeply for ourselves and the world:  

The deserts are many. Chosen and unchosen desert encounters have opened me up to see and experience more room within myself for the whole world—to carry myself, the beloved, and the world with open hands; with compassionate, vulnerable, and tender acceptance. From here, I recognize my capacity for action in the world with deeper clarity about who I am and what I am to speak—or show up to….  

In the spaciousness of solitude, we open ourselves up to the truth of ourselves. We more deeply root, examine, shed, and soften. Even in the desert moments of daily life, we are invited into renewal, when the wonder of uncertainty meets a sacred pause amid a busy day. And almost always, the desert spaces are places and moments of paradox: knowing amid the unknowing, refreshment in the parched places, life amid death, fecundity in the barrenness, midnight blooming, and acceptance of seasons. (Rohr, n.d.)

When we encounter disappointment, confusion, and dismissal we are invited to seek the wisdom of the Spirit and continue to persevere in love as companions of Jesus.

References

Butterfield, G. (2025, April 11). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041125.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/20?10 

John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?31 

Meditation on John 10:31-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/11/1245124/ 

Psalms, PSALM 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/18?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Deserts in Our Lives. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-deserts-in-our-lives/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Am the Son of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr11