TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY ORDINARY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS B

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, 

· This action shows his respect and reverence for Jesus. He was not worshipping Jesus because, obviously, he saw Jesus as a good man and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

· The man wanted to know what were Jesus’ thoughts on the necessary requirements to enter heaven.

Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 

· Why so you think Jesus answered this way?

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." 

· How well do we keep the same commandments?

· Since these basically deal with our relationship with others, where do we fail in those relationships vis a vis love?

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) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 

· The young man seems to want more than a minimal commitment, so Jesus challenges him to become a disciple by totally depending on the Master and not on his own possessions.

· We may not be called to sell everything, but we are called to become dedicated disciples. How well have we responded to the call of discipleship?

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 

· What keeps us from following Jesus as a disciple?

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 

· Is it wealth or its keeping it for ourselves that is at stake here?

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) needle than 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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." 

· What does this say to you? Salvation comes not from works but from the grace and favor of God to which we respond.

Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." 

Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. 

· What is God asking of you as you reflect on this passage? How will you respond in a practical way?