Sunday August 20th: Standing as a witness of Jesus
August 20, 2023
Iconic Historic Shrine Rededicated: Our Lady of Montserrat, Tortuga
August 21, 2023
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:16-22
For many Christians, our main focus is to not disappoint God. We are determined to remain vigilant of any occasion for sin that arises. We “wish to be perfect.” We believe this is how to get to heaven.
In today’s Gospel passage, we see that Jesus demands more of us. What good is it to keep the law, yet we do not know the Lawmaker? Take a moment to think of what more we can do to show God that we love him. We can list the evil things we didn’t do, but can we list the things we did do and the sacrifices we’ve made?
Let us pray that God gives us the courage to give up that friendship we hold dearly; the strength to give up that job we idolize. Let us pray for the fortitude to leave that relationship we believe to be ‘making us better’. Anything that stops us from following Christ, we must leave; we must walk away from; we must end.
Holy Spirit, guide us. Amen.
