Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Recent popes have referred to today’s Gospel of the rich young man in their many addresses to young people throughout the world. Through this familiar narrative they have encouraged young people, like the rich one in today’s Gospel, to grow their own conversations with Christ and to know first hand the truth that Christ still gazes lovingly, as he does at the young man. Like today’s youth, that rich young man was rich in talents, energy, and dreams.
In this spirit, our young people — indeed all of us — are asked similar questions that go to the heart of absolutely everything: “Am I satisfied with my life? What makes a life successful?” Life may be good, but there is that nagging feeling. “What must I do for my life to have value?” Yes, the Christ who gazed then gazes still.
What of the quest for eternal life that the young man sought? In the spirit of our new Augustinian pope, Saint Augustine writes, “Let us pine for our home in heaven, let us feel that we are strangers here.” Isn’t the desire of the young man for eternal life our desire as well? Divine consolation assures us that it is never too late, even if we have, like the young man, said “no” from time to time.
As James Weldon Johnson writes, “Young man, young man — your arm’s too short to box with God.” Let us fall prey to the loving gaze of Christ our savior.
Isn’t it time to surrender to his divine, irresistible gaze?
—Timothy J. Cronin