do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.” The man replied, “I have obeyed all these
commandments since my childhood.” Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, “For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you
have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.” On hearing these words, his face fell and he went
away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the
kingdom of God!” The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were more astonished than ever and wondered, “Who,
then, can be saved?” Jesus looked steadily at them and said, “For humans it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God.” Peter spoke up
and said, “We have given up everything to follow you.” Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother,
or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution he will receive a hundred
times as many houses, brothers,sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time; and, in the world to come, eternal life.

Lectio Divina

READ: Jesus is accosted by a rich young man desirous to attain eternal life. But
when Jesus invites him to give up everything and follow Him, the young man
goes away sorrowful. The apostles are astonished at how difficult it is to attain
salvation. Jesus assures them that all things are possible with God. They who
had given up everything to follow Him will receive their reward in this life, and
in the life to come.

REFLECT: The rich young man of today’s gospel is a pious believer who follows
the tradition and commandment of his faith to heart. Yet he feels that there is still
something more to be done. He is not contented with his spiritual achievements.
His heart yearns for something bigger. This is where he dares to approach Jesus
and asks Him what must he do more to achieve eternal life. He has done the
basics. He wants to venture into something larger than usual. Jesus loves Him
as soon as Jesus sees Him. He is an earnest young man after all. And so, Jesus
invited him to a life that very few responds to. A life of poverty and complete
dedication to the Lord’s project. It is an invitation to greatness by divesting
oneself of all earthly security. Sad to say, the young man is not ready for such
radical invitation. He turned away sad, knowing that the invitation will hound
him for the rest of his life. Did he finally get the courage to respond to Jesus’
invitation? We will never know. For it is us now that has to complete the task of
the rich young man. He is each and everyone of us.

RESPOND: What stands in the way of our total following of Jesus? This might
be a good day to come to terms with what has the capacity to turn us away from
the Lord. This will reveal a lot about ourselves.