+ It is interesting to note in the gospel passage today that the young man, while already keeping the major commandments of God, found something lacking in his own life – he knew that there was a perfection beyond what observance of the law could give. And he was correct. Jesus then spells out the formula: if you seek real perfection, then in addition to keeping the basic commandments of God as he gave them, you must also detach yourself from your own life, with its possessions and things, and minister to the poor. Since Jesus identified himself with these poor; when we minister to them we have a deeper, more perfect experience of relationship with him!
Now this does not mean that one cannot have possessions; but it does mean that the ownership involved is prioritized correctly. If we do the possessing of the things for our own true needs, then we are using them correctly; but if the possessions possess us, take up most or all of our time, and energy, concentration and focus, most possessions of which are not even necessary at all – then there is no way that there is any room for God in this picture. A true follower of Christ makes room for Christ, and follows the prescriptions that he gives to remain a strong and committed disciple.
The children of Israel, as we read in the first reading today, were far from being strong and committed children of God. God did such amazing and powerful things for them to help form them into his special family; yet over and over and over again they turned against him, very belligerently in some cases, and would not cease their evil practices and stubborn conduct. He was always raising up prophets and in today's case judges (who acted like prophets: being spokesmen on his behalf) and as soon as these messengers died, the people were back to their former ways of disobedience and sin. May we this day not be like them, but may we be and remain good and faithful disciples!
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