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/ 

Witness and Idols

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the “idols” to which we give attention while ignoring the fullness of life Jesus invites us to experience.

Consider Our Idols

The reading from the Book of Exodus describes the Golden Calf.

* [32:11–13] Moses uses three arguments to persuade the Lord to remain faithful to the Sinai covenant even though the people have broken it: (1) they are God’s own people, redeemed with God’s great power; (2) God’s reputation will suffer if they are destroyed; (3) the covenant with Abraham still stands. The Lord’s change of mind is a testimony to Israel’s belief in the power of intercessory prayer. (Exodus, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 106 contains a Confession of Israel’s Sins.

* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5). Confident of God’s mercy, the speaker invites national repentance (Ps 106:6) by reciting from Israel’s history eight instances of sin, judgment, and forgiveness. The sins are the rebellion at the Red Sea (Ps 106:6–12; see Ex 14–15), the craving for meat in the desert (Ps 106:13–15; see Nm 11), the challenge to Moses’ authority (Ps 106:16–18; see Nm 16), the golden calf episode (Ps 106:19–23; see Ex 32–34), (Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John identifies the Witnesses to Jesus.

* [5:32] Another: likely the Father, who in four different ways gives testimony to Jesus, as indicated in the verse groupings Jn 5:33–34, 36, 37–38, 39–40.

* [5:35] Lamp: cf. Ps 132:17—“I will place a lamp for my anointed (= David),” and possibly the description of Elijah in Sir 48:1. But only for a while, indicating the temporary and subordinate nature of John’s mission.

* [5:39] You search: this may be an imperative: “Search the scriptures, because you think that you have eternal life through them.”

* [5:41] Praise: the same Greek word means “praise” or “honor” (from others) and “glory” (from God). There is a play on this in Jn 5:44. (John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that she had the opportunity of visiting the monastery which housed the famous monk, Thomas Merton. Over the arch leading into the monastery and chapel were the words: “God Alone.”

All this has me considering my idols. Anxiety over our country’s situation has me turning to news reports too often. Anxiety in general - I’m not in charge, why worry as if I must control events and outcomes? I'm sure we can all, with a little searching, find the ways we lack trust in Jesus. Each day gives me innumerable opportunities to renew my trust in Jesus. As the poet Rumi said long ago, “Try something different: surrender." (Braddock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ is our Master who teaches us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354- 430 A.D.

"There is a Master within Who teaches us. Christ is our Master, and his inspiration and his anointing teaches us. Where his inspiration and his anointing are lacking, it is in vain that words resound in our ears. As Paul the Apostle said: 'I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.' Therefore, whether we plant or whether we water by our words, we are nothing. It is God Who gives the increase; His anointing teaches you all things." (excerpt from Sermon on 1 John 3,13) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 5:31-47 comments that we, too, can sometimes fail to notice or acknowledge the works of God or the effect they have on our lives. Yet when we take the time to step back and look at all that God is doing in us and for us, we can grow in faith and in our love for him.

All these works testify to Jesus. Let’s remember to keep them in the forefront of our minds, especially when we are tempted to doubt the love and power of the Lord.

Jesus’ works didn’t stop when he ascended to heaven. He is working even now, even today. Can you see it?

“Lord, help me to recognize and give thanks to you for all the great works you are doing in the world today!” (Meditation on John 5:31-47, 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the chutzpah of Moses as he talks down God by recalling the promises of the Covenant with Israel. The Gospel of John declares Jesus as the witness from the Father who reveals who God is and what God requires of people. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus is the Great Prophet that Moses to whom Moses gave witness.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Reverend Liz Walker, the founder of the Can We Talk… network, which creates safe spaces for people to connect through sharing their stories. She describes the importance of contemplative, healing practices to support the work of social justice.

[In contemplative practice] we are fully claiming the space and community we are in. We are seeking help in tending to our suffering. We are honoring our ancestors who testified, danced, and sang their way to transcendence in the midst of chaos and pain. In celebrating those past practices, we gently hold this community in hope and possibility. We trust that whatever needs to be healed will be healed by the Spirit of a creative God who works in and through us…. (Rohr, n.d.)

Dr. [Barbara] Holmes writes that the civil rights movement was born through the contemplative spirit of the Black church.  

The spark that ignited the justice movements did not come from the hierarchical institutional black church. Rather, it was the quixotic and limber heart of that institution, its flexible, spiritually open, and mystical center, that ignited first the young people and then their elders to move their symbolic initiatives from ritual ring shouts to processional and contemplative marches. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are challenged to recognize the “idols” we tend to advocate as “First” in our lives as we implore the Spirit to energize our commitment to Jesus' Way of truth, compassion, and love.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040325.html 

Exodus, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/32?7 

John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/5?31 

Meditation on John 5:31-47. (2025, April 3). The Word Among Us. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/03/1239902/ 

Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106?19 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Foundation Is Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-foundation-is-contemplation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr3 

First and Last

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the action we are invited to undertake to participate in realizing the last becoming the first.

Desire to be First

The reading from the Book of Sirach presents the Law and Sacrifices.

* [35:1–26] Keeping the commandments of the law and avoiding injustice constitute sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to God (vv. 1–5). Offerings also should be made to him, cheerfully and generously; these he repays sevenfold (vv. 6–13). Extortion from widows and orphans is injustice, and God will hear their cries (vv. 14–22a). Punishing the proud and the merciless and coming to the aid of the distressed, he requites everyone according to their deeds (vv. 22b–26).

* [35:3] Fine flour, together with oil and frankincense, was a prescribed offering to God; cf. Lv 2:1–3. (Sirach, CHAPTER 35 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 50 praises the Acceptable Sacrifice.

* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20). (Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus declares that the last shall be first.

l. [10:31] Mt 19:30; Lk 13:30. (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock reflects on “many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.” as a promise and a puzzle.

Jesus sure knows how to help us think! I don’t know why he included everything but fathers in his promise. I do understand why he included persecutions. But the first shall be last? The last, first? First and last in what way? The temptation is to jump to wealth, status, power in the “First” category…..but further thought reveals no, this is only what our society seems to value now. What about wisdom, what about kindness, what about humility? I’m sure you can name many “things of value" that aren’t “things.” (Braddock, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The spiritual sense of leaving the family,” by Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.

"Do not let this passage trouble you. Put it side by side with the still harder saying Jesus delivered in another place in the words, 'Whoever hates not father, and mother, and children, and his own life besides, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:26). Note that the God of peace, who exhorts us to love our enemies, does not arbitrarily require us literally to hate or abandon those dearest to us. But if we are to love our enemies, it must be in accordance with right reason that, by analogy we should also love our nearest relatives... But insofar as one's father, or son, or brother, becomes for you a hindrance to faith or an impediment to godly life, one should then not collude with that temptation. Attend to the spiritual, rather than the fleshly, meaning of the command." (excerpt from SALVATION OF THE RICH MAN 22.13) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:28-31 notes that Giovanni Fausti, Kolë Shllaku, Qerim Sadiku, and Daniel Dajani were devout Catholics in Albania who were arrested for their opposition to the Communist party in the first half of the twentieth century. Along with others deemed “enemies of the state,” they were martyred on this day in 1946 and beatified by Pope Francis in 2016. Having given up everything to follow Jesus, they now have the privilege of seeing God face-to-face.

Lent begins tomorrow. It’s almost certain that sometime during this season, your attention will drift from the Lord. You may wonder if your sacrifices matter or if your prayers are being heard or if your almsgiving makes any difference. When that happens, hold onto Jesus’ promise to Peter, to the martyrs of Albania, and to you. Your faithfulness, humility, and generosity will be rewarded!

“Holy Spirit, help me to give of myself freely and without reserve!” (Meditation on Mark 10:28-31, 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the exhortation in Sirach that sacrifice under the Law is a heart that gives charity and rejects evil. The passage from Mark is mistakenly connected to a Gospel of Wealth. Friar Jude recalls the poverty of Francis of Assisi who celebrated everything as he demonstrated how to participate in the Cross of Christ.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers the inherent connection between anger and grief that ultimately heals and liberates. After a lifetime of counseling and retreat work he has become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness. Fr. Richard introduces Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III who shares how the prophets’ grief empowers them to seek justice.

We must learn to grieve prophetically, seeing our world, even at its darkest, with the spirit and energy of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Those ancient teachers warned that the world was out of balance and that its repair requires our help. Grieving with them, we weep sometimes, yes, but without giving in to cynicism, hatred, and violence. We mourn as we work for change.… The challenge is to remember, even in our justified hurt and anger, that answering insult with insult and harm with harm just worsens the situation for everyone. We must remember the words of Dr. King: “Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.” When we grieve prophetically, we heal ourselves and the world by looking to shape the larger forces that damaged the soul of the person who caused hurt or anger, whether minor or devastating. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit for Wisdom as we struggle with the tension between our cultural emphasis to seek the first place and the peace and well being of seeking the best for others as Jesus does.

References

Braddock, S. (2025, March 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030425.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?28 

Meditation on Mark 10:28-31. (2025, March 4). The Word Among Us. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/04/1218920/ 

Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/50?5 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Honoring Our Anger and Grief. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/honoring-our-anger-and-grief/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). We Have Left Everything and Followed You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar4 

Sirach, CHAPTER 35 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/35?1