Put Aside Everything to Follow Jesus ~ by Ronnie Archer

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


The readings for this twenty-eighth Sunday put emphasis on the importance of not allowing ourselves to place a priority on the "love of the riches" of this world.

The Wisdom reading tells us that we do not earn Wisdom - it is a gift. The first reading also tells us that Wisdom comes as a result of fervent prayer.

The Hebrews reading reminds us that God's Word is "living, effective, and sharper than any two-edged sword." If we allow His Word to work within us, it will get to the depth of our souls and make a change in us.

The Gospel of Mark lets us know that if we truly want to follow Jesus - that it is very important to understand the necessity of being willing to abandon everything for His sake.

Many of us would probably be a lot like the young man in the Gospel today. Jesus invites us to follow Him - but first, we have to "sell what we have," which we would find hard to do. Jesus is not against money itself, nor some of the comforts that we consider necessities, but the love of these things placed before Him and His teachings.

Coming together in church regularly to hear God's Word proclaimed, can be enlightenment for our lives. God's Word is not only alive, but active.

Our destination is not here on earth; it is beyond this world.

Jesus' desire is for us to share what we have with others. Being selfish with our possessions can destroy us.

Let us pray, reflect and respond to God's Word, allowing it to become active in our lives.

When we do not walk in Christ, we will walk away sadly.