The young rich man's wealth was more important to him than following Jesus. Wealth had set a trap for him. "Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and a trap" (1 Tm 6:9). Lest we breathe a sigh of relief that we are not rich like that young man, consider that the lifestyle of the average American contains more luxuries than that rich young man could have ever imagined: refrigeration, indoor plumbing, warm showers, eyeglasses, air conditioning, cable TV, internet, smartphones, automobiles, vacations, health care, and so many more things we consider necessities. Like the rich young man, are we so trapped in these luxuries that we could not give them up if Jesus called us?
What is trapping us? What do we desire so much that it might hold us back from following the Lord Jesus? Place those desires on the altar during Mass and offer this as a sacrifice to God (Rm 12:1). Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, often said: "If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all." We cannot give ourselves to God and mammon, that is, the things of this world (Mt 6:24). Jesus says twice in today's Gospel passage that it is hard to enter the kingdom of God (Mk 10:23, 24). But "with God all things are possible" (Mk 10:27). Make Jesus Lord of your life. His grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:9-10).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, nail me to the cross with You that I may be attached to You and not to the world. Help me to love You more sacrificially every day. |
| PROMISE: | "How great the mercy of the Lord, His forgiveness of those who return to Him!" –Sir 17:24 |
| PRAISE: | St. Katharine's father prayed for thirty minutes each evening. This grounded her in a lifelong desire for prayer. |
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