First Reading - Judges 6:11-24
Gospel - Matthew 19:23-30
In the first reading, Gideon is an unlikely hero. When the angel of the Lord appears, Gideon is hiding, afraid of his enemies, feeling powerless and insignificant. Yet God calls him “valiant warrior” and assures him, “The Lord is with you.” Gideon protests his weakness, but God does not see as we see. He promises His strength, His presence, His peace — and that is enough. With God, Gideon will accomplish what he could never do alone.
The Gospel continues this theme. Jesus warns that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Wealth and comfort can create a false sense of security that blinds us to our dependence on God. But Jesus adds, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Salvation is not earned by human effort or wealth, but received as a gift from God’s grace.
Peter then asks what will become of those who have left everything to follow Jesus. The Lord responds with a promise: whoever gives up family, possessions, or security for His sake will receive a hundredfold — and eternal life. God takes nothing away without giving back something far greater.
Both Gideon and the apostles show us that the path of faith requires trust and surrender. We may feel weak like Gideon, or fearful like the rich young man from yesterday’s Gospel. But God calls us beyond fear, beyond attachment, into the freedom of trusting Him completely.
The question for us today is this: do we allow our limitations, our fears, or our attachments to hold us back from God’s call? Or will we trust, like Gideon, that God’s presence is enough, and like the apostles, leave behind what fades for the treasure that lasts?
May the Lord open our hearts to trust His promises, to let go of what binds us, and to walk with Him in faith — for with God, all things are possible, and with Him, eternal life awaits.
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