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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

 

They had been pressing Jesus all day.

Jesus, tell us about this. Jesus, what do you think about this? Jesus, what does the law really say? By the time they come to this young man talking to Jesus, He patiently replies that all these commandments are important. We can't merely pick and choose. We are called to follow them all, but in true Jesus fashion, He never just leaves us with a direct answer. He always stretches us, calling us to the better option. In this case, commanding the young man to leave all of his possessions, everything he's worked for - the title, the money, the prestige - all of it, to follow Him.

I see so much of myself in the young man as he struggles to let go of all of it.

Don’t kill anyone. Love your Mom and Dad. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. The commandments seem easy to follow some days. Leaving behind all that I have strived for - the title, the money, the prestige - that is the harder thing to do. Jesus knows this about us. It’s why He fights so hard to speak truth into our hearts. He understands that we easily, so easily, become attached to what the world would have us believe is important.

That is why He reminds us of the commandments.

The commandments might be our bumpers, our guiding lights so to speak; but it is our actions within those bumpers that gets us into heaven. There isn't room in between those bumpers for titles and money and prestige and fame.
Jesus asks us to choose the better way. His way, unencumbered by the things of this world.

Are we ready to make that choice?

 

Ponder:


What is Jesus asking you to let go of today so that you can follow Him?

 

Pray:


Lord, help me to see that the narrow way is the way to true happiness. Open my eyes, Lord, to see all that I need to detach from to follow You.

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Jesus asks us to choose the better way. His way, unencumbered by the things of this world. #dailygospel



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Copyright 2021 Laura K. Roland

About the Author

Laura K. Roland

Laura K. Roland

Laura K. Roland is a cradle Catholic. She and her husband of 31+ years have 3 children and have recently added a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law to their ever-growing family. A former Catholic educator, she co-founded the women’s ministry Encounter Grace in 2018 and is a speaker, writer, mentor, and host of the new podcast, Short Story Longer.