8th Week in Ordinary Time (Year B) : Monday 27th May 2024

If we were asked to reflect on this question, “Where do I belong, heaven or earth?” How would we answer?

Our answer, desirably, is of course, heaven. The nudging thought is that if we belong to heaven, then why do we hoard as if we doggedly belong to this earth? For many people, we tie ourselves to the things of this world as if they are our life-line. All created things are good and meant for the betterment of our lives. However, when we start to become too attached to them, we tend to forget the Giver Who gave it to us in the first place.

In the Gospel today, the man who asked Jesus about eternal life was told to give up everything and follow the Lord but he was unprepared and unwilling to do so. It is not wrong to have material things. However, to be burdened by them to the extent that it jeopardises our goal towards eternal life puts the onus of the choice on us. God gives us free will to choose the path to eternal life and we must discern and choose wisely. It is, as Jesus says, not impossible for one to enter the kingdom of heaven. We make it impossible by our actions and the choices we make in life. Our earthly belongings are a means to help us reach the heavenly purpose for which we are created – to be with God.

Dear Lord, guide us always to choose the path that leads to heaven.