With Opened Bible
Turning Our Back On Distractions
"You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
This Sunday's Gospel presents us with a profound challenge, inviting us to delve into our own spiritual journey.
A man of wisdom, who revered God and had been steeped in the Law since his youth, approached Jesus with a question that has echoed through the ages: what must I do to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? (Mark 10:17)
At first glance, he addressed Jesus as "Good Master," but Jesus responded: "Why do you call me good? Only God is good." Why did Jesus reject this praise? The answer lies in his humility. In his human form, he desired the Father to be supreme in all things, even the knowledge of the end of tme. 'Only the Father knows the hour,' he said. (Cf. Mathew 24:36) Yet, the disciples eventually realized that Jesus was omniscient. (John 16:30)
The scholar had a big problem. He knew the commandments and had practiced them since childhood. But despite this, he did not feel comfortable. Something was missing. And Jesus knew it. "Go and sell all that you have and follow me."
Selling all that you have should not be taken literally. The man was rich and owned a lot of land, which he was dependent on. This dependence on material wealth was a barrier to him entering the Kingdom. Jesus asked him to be free from this dependence, to be free to choose and enter the Kingdom.
Only men and women who are free from the chains of material wealth can enter the Kingdom. This means being free from the love of money, the desire for more possessions, and the worry about losing what we have. The same queston must challenge us on this thirteenth ordinary Sunday B. What must we do to inherit the Kingdom? Knowing the commandments and the Laws of the Church, praying our rosary, or giving alms is not enough. We must be free from everything that distracts us from God. It is tme to turn our backs on these distractons and embrace life in Jesus Christ.
