Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 21, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time - Memorial of St. Pius X

Scripture Text: Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He 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.” He 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; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus 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.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel contains Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man. The young man approached Jesus seeking to know what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus challenges him, asking why he came to Jesus for these answers. Then when Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, the young man asked which ones. Jesus gives him a list of commandments that deal with loving one another. The young man boasted that he observed all the commandments that Jesus listed. Then Jesus challenged him and said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, ell what you have, give to the poor, you will have treasure in heave, and come, follow me.” Jesus challenges the young man to set down the earthly for the heavenly, to journey with Christ. The young man could not bear to do that and went away sad.

How does this pertain to us today?

The young man’s observance was restricted to what others could observe. His relationship with the living LORD was not mentioned. When Jesus challenged him to pick up that relationship, he was unwilling because it meant setting aside his earthly wealth.

Today we are challenged by this gospel because we wonder, too, what we must do. But Jesus has told us. “Come, follow me.” Following Jesus means to keep all the commandments, most especially love for the LORD with our whole being. Fortune is not evil; putting earthly fortune before our relationship with the LORD is unwise and sinful.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What value do I place on my relationship with the LORD? Is it my first and most valued relationship? Or is it one I relinquish to the periphery of my life? Do I seek to grow in that relationship daily?

Praying:

LORD, You have told us what we must do to gain eternal life: do justice, love righteousness, and walk humbly with our LORD (Micah 6:8). Help us LORD as we journey through our lives to seek to strengthen our relationships with our sisters and brothers as well as treasure our relationship with You. Grant that we may understand that we were created in relationship for relationship and that we will use our lives to build them up in love, beginning with the most essential, our relationship with You. Amen.