THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the eighth Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Pet 1:3-9

Ps 111

Mark 10:17-27

What must I do…

Dear friends in Christ, every believer, Christian or not, wants to get to heaven. There is often that desire then to know what is required to get there. That is why the question posed to Jesus in the gospel of today is basically everyone’s concern.

In the Gospel of today Jesus was preparing for a journey when a man came to him desirous to know, how to get to heaven. He said, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” It is impossible to inherit eternal life. It is a gift of God to those who have done his will. Jesus told him to go and keep the commandments. “Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.” The man’s response, “I have kept all of these from my youth,” shows that he is a good man, truly desirous to do the will of God. Jesus loved him for that. To move up higher on the scale of his good deeds, Jesus recommends one more thing, “You lack one thing; go sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” If he had kept the commandments the way he said, he is qualified to become a disciple. But his reaction showed that he was not yet ready for that kind of discipleship. His countenance fell, and he walked away.

Jesus then took the opportunity to teach his disciples to have the right attitude to the things of the world. “How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Do not blame the man. Look at yourself instead. What can you give up for your salvation? Jesus gave his life for your sake, what is your contribution to the society in which you live. 

The daily struggle for more of the resources of the world; the craze to acquire more and more can blind us to the needs of others. The Lord demands that we be not engrossed so much in the things around us as to forget where we are going. Remember, it was not Jesus who called this man, he was the one who came to the Lord. What he found too difficult, has become one of those ways by which people devote themselves completely to the mission of Christ. St Francis of Assisi, Mother Theresa and many, through the ages have given up everything to give their lives to the service of God and the community. What are you willing to give?

Let us pray: Lord, make us the channel of grace, through which you satisfy the needs of those around us. Amen. 

+Remain blessed