16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Matt 19:16-22)
GOING FURTHER
Most of the national heroes of the Philippines died when they were young. In the World Youth Day of the year of the Great Jubilee 2000, young saints were presented as models for this millennium and have made their way into the hearts of the participants. The following were made patron saints of that great event: St. Agnes of Rome, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Josephine Bakita, then Blessed and now Saints Pedro Calungsod and Kateri Tekakwitha, Blessed Andrew Phu Yen, and Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati.
What makes the youth shine? What brings them to make a difference?
Could it be their idealism, their yearning for something beyond the status quo? It is that which makes them ask questions; it is that which makes them look for the meaning behind every act, every word, every event: the meaning in life.
That is why we are not surprised when the young man asked Jesus what he should do to have eternal life. He was interested in the ultimate. Such idealism, such interest! He had kept the commandments and now he was seeking what he needed to do further. He was not satisfied with the minimum that he could do.
However, the words of Jesus poured cold water over his enthusiasm. He was not ready to go further. There are also times when we are sad like the young man because we do not come up to the is expected of us.
Many young people have crossed the threshold which the young man in the gospel was not able to cross—they have entered religious life, or have made a choice for the state of life where they were called by God. More than that brief shining moment of reciting the vows are those moments of their daily lives when they decide to go further in following Jesus.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is God’s call for me?
2. Is he asking me to go beyond keeping his commandments and give up something more in order to follow him more closely?
Lord, may my example inspire others to be courageous to follow you more closely.
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