OUT OF LOVE FOR GOD – 02/28/22 (Monday)

Mark 10:17-21,27

17 And as He was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to Him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 

27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

For the full readings, click here: 

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings

Blessed Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time! Jesus clarifies to the rich young man that only God is good to imply to him that He is not merely a teacher, but He is God. It is necessary for us to practice virtues and to seek eternal life. However, it should be done out of love for our Lord. The beginning, middle and end of our mission here on earth should be about our love for Jesus. Although it's true that we should always follow the commandments of God, if we only focus on what we want in our lives and for ourselves, it will be difficult for us to follow God's will, to continue in our journey and to endure the sufferings we experience. 

The rich young man was obedient to the commandments, but he still loved his attachments such as his wealth more than our Creator. This was one of the reasons why he was not able to accept the direct invitation from God Himself who promised him eternal rewards in heaven. Our attachments in life can hinder us from giving greater praise, honor, and glory to our God. Rather than help the needy, some may be attached to their own riches and the luxurious things they buy even if these things will not help them improve in their spiritual lives. Instead of spending more time with God in prayer, other people choose to dwell on entertainment, social media, and their gadgets. But, the reason why Jesus calls us to make big and even small sacrifices is because of His love for us. In this way, our faith is tested and purified, and our relationship with God deepens as a result. 

Nothing is impossible with God. It seems impossible for us if we simply depend on our own strength, our own wants and our comfort zone. We will fall to anxieties, discouragement, and despair. Let's look at the life of Jesus. He is the King of the Universe, but He chose to be poor by becoming like one of us and by suffering for us to be saved from our sins. Then, He rose from the dead, and He ascended to heaven. Only God is capable of doing this, and He teaches us to trust solely in Him for us to be raised from spiritual death and obtain our rewards in heaven. 

Let us reflect upon our motivations in our faith. Do we live the faith solely based on our wants and comfort? Or, do we persevere to follow God's will for us because of our love for Him? May we pray for the wisdom to know God's will and the courage to follow Him. As we await for the coming Lent season, let's take the time to ask the Lord about the sacrifices He wants us to embrace, endure and offer for salvation of souls and world peace. By dedicating our lives to Christ, He will deliver us from our attachments, and He will grant us eternal life. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic