Monday, May 28, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - MONDAY, 8TH WEEK - ORDINARY TIME
St. Germanus, bishop
1 Peter 1:3-9/ Psalm 110:1-2,5-6,9-10/ Mark 10:17-27
THE ONE THING THAT I LACK
Beloved, St. Peter in our today's first reading draws our attention to the importance of Christian life as baptised people. The Sacrament of Baptism gives us new life in Christ. We should believe in Jesus and his saving mission.
Friends, a young man, in our today's Gospel reading asked Jesus, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" It was a good question. How many of us are particular about eternal life? Jesus started with the commandments and the young man said he obeyed all that from his earliest days. Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him. "Jesus told him, 'there is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor.... and come and follow me'". This made the young man very sad. Why go to Jesus with very high hope and go back sad? What is the one thing that I lack? What obstacle can prevent me from gaining eternal life? When many of us hear/read this text, we are sometimes tempted to point accusing figures at those who are materially wealthy. The young man's obstacle was his wealth. How to detach from his wealth. Jesus gave up his life voluntarily on the cross. Why can't I give up the one thing that will prevent me from gaining eternal life? Where lies my wealth? I can be financially poor but very rich in pride, greed, envy, anger, etc. Am I ready to detach myself from vices and any earthly possessions and be attached to God and the kingdom values? Let us pray for all the baptised and those yet to be baptised to continue to have faith in Jesus. We also pray for the grace to learn to detach from perishable things in order to attain something more valuable. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa. (0206854323/020308878)