MY daily reflection and prayer:
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 19: 23-30
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
DO not misunderstand Jesus’ words in the Gospel today that he hates one who is rich. Never! When he says that it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven, he is speaking to every person, to each of us. Also, it’s not a matter of riches but about an intimate relationship with God. We need to be free of anything burdensome so that we have room for God in our life.
God wants to be the only King of our hearts. This is impossible if we are attached to material things that we have no room for God. To be attached to material things means not having room for God.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while adoring Jesus Christ, we want to give a sweetest room for God. How easy it is for us to be attached to ourselves, to material things, to our pleasures and to our desires. It is why to leave all of these in order to get to heaven may seem impossible for us to do.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for reminding us that we can reach God only when we empty ourselves and allow your grace fill our hearts. Yes, no one can overcome these material attachments without the help of your grace. Grant us a profound desire to reach heaven as shown by our proper use of material things. May we seek your kingdom alone and want to help others now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
