From the Gospel according to Mark, Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments:
You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother.””
He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.””
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.””
At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!””
The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 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.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
The Gospel of the Lord
With All Your Strength
Whoever seeks the Kingdom of God with all their strength, God gives them everything they need—and even I do not know what I truly need. Only God knows. He must strip me of my self-love, and this is very difficult for me. That is why I need to stand before the Lord and let Him remove all the obstacles from my heart.
My spouse is a great help in this because my relationship with him or her forces me to step out of myself in order to enter their heart.
Applied to Married Life:
Luis: After 50 years of life, Lola, I look back and realize that my successes come down to what the Lord has taken away from me—things that were preventing me from loving you better.
Lola: And He’s taken quite a few! Though I think He might need another 40 or 50 years to finish the job. Hahaha!
Luis: Hahaha! How funny… No, but you’re absolutely right. I’m a tough nut to crack. I think I’m making it very difficult for Him.
Lola: Well, freeing ourselves completely so that God may reign isn’t something within our power. It really means placing our security in God at all levels—financially, in decisions, in our ways of thinking, in our time…
Luis: Phew! Just thinking about it hurts. Pray that He helps me.
Lola: I pray for you every day. I promise.
Mother,
God’s will is to lead us to His Kingdom. May we be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit. Blessed be the Lord, who gives us the difficulties we need.