There is no single path that everyone takes on this journey.
Today, Jesus tells an inquisitive young man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor if he wishes to join the Kingdom of Heaven. The man walks away sad because he is wealthy and would be giving up a lot. Let us not criticize this man, but rejoice—he said the commandments were fundamental to his life and asked Jesus what else he could do to please God. This is not something to be sad about; his life is in progress.
Each one of us is on a unique journey to becoming a saint, but the path is rarely straight and is never without its peaks and valleys. Jesus is humble of heart, and if we are willing to learn from him, we are making progress on our own journeys as well.
If we were to ask Jesus what we need to do for eternal life, what would he tell us? How would we respond?
Let us pray for our hearts to be open to Jesus’s advice and that we may continue on the paths leading us closer to God. Amen.
For additional reading: Today’s Gospel: The Rich Young Man, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
