A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mk 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,knelt down before him, and asked him,“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?No one is good but God alone.You know the commandments: You shall not kill;you shall not commit adultery;you shall not steal;you shall not bear false witness;you shall not defraud;honor your father and your mother.”He replied and said to him,“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,“You are lacking in one thing.Go, sell what you have, and give to the poorand you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”At that statement, his face fell,and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,“How hard it is for those who have wealthto enter the Kingdom of God!”The disciples were amazed at his words.So Jesus again said to them in reply,“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needlethan for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said,“For men it is impossible, but not for God.All things are possible for God.”
REFLECTION
“Then who can be saved?”
There are so many happy memories growing up in Laredo, Texas. My brother and I did not know we did not have much, til we saw how others lived.
My mother taught me to shop on layaway, how to sew your own clothes and how to live within your own means.
At the age of seven I learned a huge lesson about sin and material things. The school was selling the girl's Holy Communion gift set--white purse, white missalette and white rosary. How can a seven year old say "no" to that? It was a bargain!! Literally a steal.
After my mother told me "No" to the purchase, I then lied to her asking for money for a school fundraiser. And that money was then used to buy my white purse, white missalette and rosary.
A few weeks later, the beautiful gift set came in. That afternoon a friend came over to play. When she left, my mother noticed that the white purse, white missalette and the white rosary were there. She assumed they were my friend's so she went out to find her to return the gift set. I had no choice but to "turn myself in".
The disappointment, the loss of trust and the realization that I was so attached to what I did not have that I did not foresee the damage in my relationship with my mom hurt both of us. I had lied to her.
She made me return the beautiful white purse, white missalette and white rosary.
My deception, my lie and my selfishness continue to be a lesson for me over all these years. I not only hurt my mother but also God. My first communion and I was already down the wrong path!!
Is this how I treat God? Is this how I pray ? Is this why I was created?
Are worldly goods more important than God? A resounding "NO".
I read somewhere that someone with cancer learned a new prayer. It was “Thank you”.
I too have learned this same prayer. Thank you, God, for my parents and my faith.
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