Monday August 16th: What do I lack?

“…he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Matthew 19:16-22

The eagerness of this young man is surely admirable, as he showed great interest in obtaining eternal life. In fact I pray all our young people would be this eager! What led him to ask Jesus about this? Was it that he wasn’t sure and wanted to see if he covered all his bases or was it that he was in fact sure that he did, and needed Jesus to tell him what he already knew?
After all, he was following all the laws handed down from Moses; isn’t that the definition of being ‘righteous’? Well, not by Jesus’ standards. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). He went away sad, because his heart was with his possessions. True love for neighbours requires a willingness to give up possessions in order to help them.
Jesus, help me to discern where I lack, where my heart is and give me the courage to focus on heavenly treasures.