In our gospel reading this weekend, Jesus encounters someone seeking guidance on how to become more holy.  This person is the only one in the entire Gospel of St. Mark of whom it is said: “Jesus loved him”, yet the person left feeling sad because he found the cost of discipleship to be too great.  

This individual simply wanted to become more holy, as you and I want to be holy, but he was unable to let go of his notion of holiness and follow where Jesus was leading. It is not easy to let go of long held beliefs, but Jesus calls us to change, to be open to new ideas and new ways of serving and loving.  God’s way is not always our way.

When Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, Jesus was simply teaching us that without God in our lives, without work on our part, without a willingness to change, we will simply spin our wheels and miss out on the freedom of discipleship.  Let us joyfully follow Jesus with an open and sincere heart.

May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.

Fr. Harry