Sacrifice

October 10, 2021 – Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“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. (Mark 10:17-30)

SACRIFICE: Jesus told the rich young man, who had followed the commandments faithfully, that there is still more to do.

We need to be committed to all aspects of our faith, not only in how we follow the rules of the Church, but also in how we live our daily lives in service to others. We need to pray for others, spend time serving others directly, and make our resources available to those in need.

We are obligated to put aside our own needs and make a commitment to the needs of others – the larger Church. It means sacrifice. It means taking our focus off of what we have already accomplished and being in tune with what still needs to be done; and the work of loving our neighbor is never done.