You are lacking in one thing...

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...

(from the Gospel of Mark, 10:17-30)

Jesus' words to the rich young man in today's Gospel cut him to the quick.  Why?  Not necessarily because he had so many possession but that his possessions possessed him.  He couldn't believe he had any worth or value without them. 

Jesus was inviting him to know his true worth, his true value.  Mother Teresa said,

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

Perhaps this was also the rich young man.  Perhaps he only had things and was not loved or cared for. 

 

Our society and culture always stresses getting more, getting bigger, getting better.  An accumulation of things verses doing those things that have greater value:  spending time, spending ourselves in the service of our loved ones, our neighbors and those whom we encounter.  Today, spend some time and ask yourself what possess you -- is it the Lord? or the things you own?