Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

MT 19:16-22

OTHER POSSIBLE TOPIC: Jesus called the rich man to enter relationship with him...

2. Man has to empty himelse to make room for God

“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Some criticize this young man as dissembling, greedy, and wicked in putting Jesus in a test. However, if we read St. Mark Gospel we may know that Mark's Gospel portrays him differently: "A man ran up and kneeling before him asked him," and "Jesus looking upon him loved him."

Jesus sees into the young man's heart and loves him deeply. Despite the man's sadness upon hearing Jesus's advice to sell his possessions and give to the poor, his initial question reveals a sincere desire for eternal life. Pope John Paul II notes that “The question which the rich young man puts to Jesus is one which rises from the depths of his heart. It is an essential and unavoidable question for the life of every man, for it is about the moral good which must be done and about eternal life., which is the core of Jesus’s teaching

The young man believed he had fulfilled his obligations for attaining eternal life, but Jesus knows what is lacking in him. "One thing you lack,"Jesus said, "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Sadly, the young man could not follow Jesus’s advice.

St. Chrysostom observed that "the rich young man went away in sorrow because he came to Jesus with too weak a will. Though he truly desired eternal life, he was held in the grip of a serious moral infirmity." He was unable to follow Jesus's instructions because of his weakness in will and immaturity in faith.

Reflecting on this story, we recognize ourselves in the young man's good intentions and deep desires. Like him, we may ask Jesus what we must do to attain eternal life. The crucial question then becomes: are we prepared to follow Jesus's instructions? Are we ready to heed and act upon what Jesus instructs us?

Let us pray that God strengthens our faith and resolve to follow Jesus's advice, giving up whatever prevents us from storing up treasures in heaven.

“Jesus, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

May God bless us all.