Ord. Wk 28th October 14, 2018
Reflection on the WORD
Eternal Life: In today’s Gospel, a man ran up to Jesus to ask how he could inherit eternal life?” He kept all The Commandments, but was attached to his material wealth. Do we also have “attachments”: wealth, pride, social status that are preventing us from loving God more wholeheartedly?
Mk 10:17-22
Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’
And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, ‘You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, the man who ran up to Jesus and knelt before him was a good man who lived the Commandments faithfully throughout his life. Yet, he desired a deeper fulfilment in life; he desired to “inherit eternal life.”
- Jesus challenged him to be detached from his material riches and then give himself totally and unconditionally to God. He could not accept the challenge and turned away from Jesus sad.
- Are there obstacles and barriers keeping you from deepening a closer relationship with Jesus? Could they be our material riches, social status, pride, comforts in life? What is God’s Spirit saying to you in your heart?