The Gospel stands out to me in today’s readings. With COVID I have been spending a lot more time in Lectio Divina. For weeks the passages I’ve been meditating and contemplating have contained a similar message. This particular passage made its way on my Lectio two weeks ago. I am reminded a lot of how my faith-walk has proceeded over my adult life. I find it interesting that Jesus is abrupt when replying to the question “Why do you ask me about the good?” Like myself, the young man should be aware of what is needed to attain eternal life from his years studying the Torah. I’m reminded how, during various stages in my times of spiritual life, I’ve become complacent and took the source or “the good” for granted.

Jesus answers with all the basics that the man should be aware of. The ante goes up when the young man is called to give up worldly possessions. This was too hard for the young man to hear and he went away sad. The heart of this dialogue to me is the call by Christ “Then come follow me.” It’s a simple formula. Do I see Christ and living in a Christ-like manner as a focus in my daily life? What am I willing to give up in my life to follow Christ? As the months and years have gone by the answer is becoming clearer and clearer. I need to follow “the One who is good.” My daily prayers are for willingness and the gift of God’s grace to accompany me along the way. I need to keep in mind, however, progress not perfection as I move onward.

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." — St. Thomas Aquinas