What is Lacking?

~~~ Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 7:7-11 ~~ Psalm 90 ~~ Hebrews 4:12-13 ~~~ 

~~~ Mark 10:17-30 ~~~

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,

"You are lacking in one thing...

In the Gospel today,

 Jesus uses a very visual analogy to emphasize

the potential problems with wealth.

He states that 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 heaven.

The one thing lacking is our reluctance to give

of ourselves...not simply from our monetary funds.

Jesus is looking at the man kneeling before him.

This individual believes he is leading a good life...

He addresses Jesus as 'good'. He is keeping the commandments,

but he wants to do more...he wants to be a better person.

In identifying with this person, you most likely 

also want to be a better person.

...the word of God is living and effective,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,

and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

These words from the letter to the Hebrews

contains enough to reflect on for many days.

Jesus lovingly looks at you.

He sees between your soul and your spirit.

You may not be aware that your soul and spirit can be separated.

There is nothing you can conceal from God.

He alone knows exactly what it takes for you to get to heaven.

Your personal relationship with Jesus

 is not a one size fits most. 

Why would he be able to discern the mere reflections of your heart?

Why would he care about the thoughts of your heart?

God has a unique prescription for your soul.

He knows what it will take for you to enter into his kingdom.

He knows all the goodness in your heart and mind,

but he also knows where you can do a better job.

The living word of God,

by design penetrates your soul.

It deciphers who you truly are within.

Some are not ready to hear the truth.

For the young man, when hearing 

that he must get rid of his possessions,

that was too much...he went away sad.

What would you be most reluctant to hear from Jesus.

What must you do to get closer to the threshold of his kingdom?

No matter how impossible it may seem;

he promises that with him nothing is impossible.

Do you believe that to be true for your life?

Jesus is constantly asking us 

to get rid of the extra baggage in our heart.

He alone knows what you are lacking.

He loves you enough to reveal  

to you your specific task.

Are you too going to turn and walk away

 with a sad, heavy heart?

Jesus waits for you.

He knows the beauty within your heart and soul.

He knows just what it takes to make

you more holy and pleasing.

God Blesses you with courage to act.

~~~Peace~~~

The Path of Pride

~~~ Ez 28:1-10 ~~~ Psalm (Dt 32) ~~~ Matthew 19: 23-30 ~~~

It is tempting at times to fall into the trap of thinking

that we have accomplished the good things in our life.

That through our keen abilities we have

 brought about goodness and success in our life.

Through the prophet Ezekiel the prince of Tyre is being reprimanded

for thinking and acting as if HE were a god.

Giving himself credit, even for his wisdom and intelligence.

He takes pride in the mighty riches he has accumulated for himself...

never once stopping to think for a moment

that he might have had a little help from someone

far greater than himself.

"...Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations...."

Sometimes we see God taking drastic steps to enlighten a person

who has chosen the path paved with the stones of pride.

We become arrogant and intoxicated with the brilliance

of our wonderfulness.

God stands in the middle of this path of pride and stops you in your tracks.

"...you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you..."

If you do not get it on your own God will tell clearly

inform you of your flawed reasoning.

It is always God who has the final say.

It is always God who calls the shots.

It is always God who judges if the player is safe or out.

If it were not for God where would you really be?

If it not for God's intervention could you be who you are today?

As for me; my answer is a loud "NO".

I try to acknowledge the presence of God actively working in my life...

working through my life...and providing for my life.

It is God who opens the windows when all the doors

seem to be closed.

It is God who leads my decisions.

It is God who walks with me in good times and bad.

If I cannot give God the credit he alone deserves in my life,

then why would I expect him

to be there simply because I call him one day.

Consistency is the key,

 I think.

We cannot take sole credit for something one day

and the next ask God to intercede.

But we have a God that is eager to hear us call on him.

We have a God who is perfect at hearing our call.

The disciples were distraught with Jesus' example

of the camel passing through the eye of a needle.

Camels are large animals.

The disciples were very familiar with camels.

They were very useful on long desert journey's.

Camels can reach over seven feet tall and weigh in

around a thousand pounds;

a rather large animal.

Once again we see Jesus, the master teacher,

use something the disciples knew well

to explain his point concerning something

they knew nothing about.

Seeing how concerned the disciples are Jesus tells them...

"...you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory..."

Along with others who have been faithful followers of Jesus

"...will inherit eternal life."

This teaching ends here with words we will continue

to ponder for many days to come.

"...But many who are first will be last,

and the last will be first."

Those who foolishly continue down the path of pride,

 boasting at every corner of their accomplishments

may be in for a surprise when they arrive at the banquet.

Lord help me to be ever honest and sincere in giving you the credit

for all things I have accomplished.

Without you, Lord I am nothing.