Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Will We Too Go Away Sad?

“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing.’” The rich, young man was looking to Jesus to tell him what he needed to do to enter the kingdom of God. He was proud of himself for keeping the commandments and probably expected Jesus to acknowledge his goodness and to praise him for good work.

Jesus, however, challenges him with these words: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The response of the otherwise confident young man is described in this way. “…his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Wealth offered the young man access to so many things in life—health, reputation, respect, and fullness of life. What the young man was seeking was God, a relationship with God, a quest to ultimately be with God.

Imagine Jesus looking at you, loving you and saying to you, “You are lacking in one thing.” What is the one more thing lacking in your life? What is the “wealth” you need to sell or give away? What is Jesus asking of you when he says “Come, follow me?”