The Rich Young Man

Today's Reflections 


                                                            

The Rich Young Man 

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Mt 19:16-22

¹⁶Someone approached [Jesus] and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” ¹⁷He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; ¹⁹honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” ²⁰The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” ²¹Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²²When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Reflection:

He went away sad. The earnest young man in the Gospel misses his chance of a lifetime. He is looking for what really matters—eternal life. He goes to the right person—Jesus. The young man is told how to gain eternal life—by keeping the commandments. But when he asks what is yet lacking of him, and Jesus gives him an answer that will assure him treasure in heaven, the young man refuses because he cannot let go of his possessions.

Jesus should be the greatest treasure of our hearts. For him we should be willing to give up even our life.

I counsel a bridegroom to tell his bride on their honeymoon night, “Darling, you are only no. 2 in my life…” But before the wife faints, he is to add, “…because Jesus is no. 1 in my life.” I tell couples, “If Jesus is no. 1 in your lives, everything else will be in place.”

For the rich young man, his possessions

—not Jesus—were no. 1. How about for you?