The essence of the Christian life is total abandonment to God's will. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our strength, and all our minds (Lk 10:27).
For each person, a certain act is representative of total abandonment to God. The young man in today's Gospel reading would have given all to God if he had sold his possessions (Mt 19:21). Ezekiel gave all to the Lord by prophesying, even using the circumstances of his wife's death to prophesy (Ez 24:15ff). Jewish Christians of the early Church gave God their all when they accepted Gentiles into their Christian community (see Acts 10:45ff). Gentiles gave their all to God by changing their lifestyle and observing certain Jewish practices (Acts 15:20). The older brother of the prodigal son could have given everything to the Lord by forgiving his brother (Lk 15:28ff). St. Matthew gave his all by leaving his secular job (Mt 9:9). St. Barnabas gave his all by selling his property and giving the money to the Church (Acts 4:37). Ananias and Sapphira failed to give their all in similar circumstances (Acts 5:1ff). The Blessed Virgin Mary gave her all by changing her plans and being the mother of God (Lk 1:34ff). St. Joseph gave his all by not divorcing Mary (Mt 1:19ff).
How does the Lord want you to live out your total abandonment to Him? "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).
| PRAYER: | Father, I am all Yours forever. |
| PROMISE: | "You will then have treasure in heaven." –Mt 19:21 |
| PRAISE: | St. John Eudes was a priest, the founder of two religious communities, and a promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College