Daily Reflections ...

In today’s Gospel, a rich man was disappointed to learn that keeping the commandments and leading a ‘good’ life was not enough.  Jesus challenged him to give away his possessions and follow him.  The man ‘was shocked and went away grieving’ because he was attached to his wealth.

I wonder if he walked away knowing within himself that letting go of his wealth meant letting go of control over his life and all that he had dreamed of for himself?  Maybe, he realised that this ‘letting go’ to whole-heartedly follow Jesus was something he was just not ready to do.

You can’t really blame him for walking away.  I mean, the idea of following Jesus sounds easy enough to do when it feels like we are exactly where we need to be, doing what Jesus is asking of us.  Yet, every now and again, if we are paying attention, there can be this stirring within drawing us towards a very different path to the one we had set out for ourselves.  It is in that moment, that we are faced with the same choice as the rich man, and, in being asked to let go of the worldly things we hold dear, we discover whether we are truly willing to follow wherever Jesus leads.

What might be some ‘riches‘ in your life that Jesus is asking you to let go of?

Take some time today in stillness and silence to listen to Jesus’ loving stirring within.

By Steph Unger