The existential questions confronting us in today’s gospel are: what must we do to follow Jesus?  What is the one thing more the Lord is asking of us?

For most of us, the answer is obviously not to give away everything we have to the poor.  But it might be to continue our support of relief funds, mission work and the Catholic Charities Appeal.  For most of us, the agenda will not include leaving our home and family.  But it might mean keeping up our efforts to provide home for refugees, employment for the jobless and protection for the defenseless.

In other words, the gospel is challenging us to re-examine our values.  Have material riches replaced spiritual ones in our homes?  Has our entertainment systems pushed out all prayer time in our lives?  Have excess use of alcohol or tobacco desensitized us to the movements of God in our spirits?

The primary purpose of the gospel is not to make us feel guilty about what we have, but to lead us to reflect seriously on what our priorities are.

For example, do we have to let go of some of our work and outside involvements in order to spend more time with our family?  Do we have to sacrifice some of the luxuries we surround ourselves with, in order to open our hearts more to the plight of the poor?  Do we have to turn off some of the noise of today’s recordings in order to hear the sound of God’s voice?

Jesus tells us how hard it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.  Why not simplify our lives somewhat to free ourselves to follow the Lord more easily, more closely and even more joyously?

Why go away sad today because we will not let go of the one thing more that the Lord wants from us?  Why not go away happy believing that no matter how much we let go for the Lord, He will always give us back a hundredfold.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell