"go, sell all that you possess, and give the to the poor..."

The young man, despite having kept the commandments, is unable to part with his possessions and follow Jesus's instruction,

illustrating the difficulty of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth. 

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Judges 2:11-19

The Israelites treated the Lord badly

For they served the Baals instead. They abandoned the Lord,

the God of their ancestors who had brought them out of Egypt, and served other gods,

the gods of the neighboring peoples. They bowed before those gods and offended the Lord.

 

When the Lord saw that they had abandoned him to serve Baal and Ashtaroth,

he became angry with his people and gave them into the hands of plunderers who left them in misery.

He himself sold them to their enemies who completely surrounded the Israelites, so that these Israelites could no longer withstand them.

Whenever they felt strong for an offensive, the Lord would turn against them and send evil upon them,

as he had warned them and sworn to do. And this caused much distress and anguish for the Israelites.

 

The Lord raised up "judges" (or liberators) who saved the Israelites from their exploiters.

But neither did they obey those "judges" for they still prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them.

They soon left the way of their fathers who obeyed the commandments of the Lord;

they did not follow the way of their fathers. When the Lord made a judge appear among his people,

the Lord was with him and saved them from their enemies. That lasted as long as the judge lived,

for the Lord was moved to pity by the lament of his people who were oppressed and persecuted.

But when the judge died, they again became worse than their ancestors worshiping and serving other gods.

They would not renounce their pagan practices and stubborn ways.

 

 Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-4 43ab & 44

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 19:16-22

It was then, that a young man approached him and asked, "Master, what good work must I do to receive eternal life?"

Jesus answered, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One, only, is good.

If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments." The young man said, "Which commandments?"

Jesus replied, "Do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;

honor your father and mother. And love your neighbor as yourself."

 

The young man said to him, "I have kept all these commandments. What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell all that you possess, and give the money to the poor;

and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me." On hearing this, the young man went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Then come back and follow me.

St Thérèse of Lisieux said that she didn't want to be half a saint.

In contrast, perhaps this describes the state of the rich young man in the Gospel.

He's an honorable man, who lives a good life according to the commandments,

but he places limits on his commitment to God and his neighbour so that his faith remains comfortable,

and on his own terms. And yet, deep down, he feels he should be doing more, which is why he approaches Jesus.

Christ focuses on ways to deepen his commitment by lifting the limits that the young man has placed on practice of his faith.

 

"If you wish to be perfect, go, sell all that you possess, and give the to the poor... Then come back and follow me."

Jesus invites him to leave all behind and become his disciple, just like the others before him.

The difference is that this young man feels tied to his current way of life and so he walks away sad.

Reluctantly, he decides to settle for being half a saint. Now,

Christ challenges us to go beyond safe mediocrity to a life of love and holiness. Do we accept?