day twelve

NOVENA OF TRUST - Day Twelve

"From the fear of being asked to give more than I have.
Deliver me, Jesus."

As we pray with this petition today we can certainly see that this fear runs rampant in today's world. Even in our own lives.

What I am unwilling, or scared to give up to follow my Lord? What keeps my eyes from focusing on God and what He wants in my life? In what areas am I unwilling to forget myself and put others first?

Jesus' encounter with the Rich Young Man, that we hear in Scripture,, came to mind this morning. This lesson was so important that Matthew, Mark and Luke include this encounter in their Gospels.

As I read all three at prayer I realized that Mark's telling was my favorite. It is my favorite because Mark includes one line that the other two do not.

Mark 10: 17-22
""Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?...You know the commandments....all these I have observed from my youth... You lack one thing; go, sell what you have..."

Now this is my favorite part! Just before Jesus tells the Rich Young Man to go and sell what he has Mark's Gospel tells us that, "...Jesus looking upon him loved him..."

Jesus looking upon him loved him.....

Our Lord knows that what He asks in our lives is not always easy, but He offers us His strength. He would not ask it if we were incapable of answering.

What "one thing" (or many) do we lack to follow our Lord? What do we need to give up to keep our eyes on Him? Will we follow Jesus or, will we walk away like the Rich Young Man - believing that God is asking too much?

Our Lord will never ask for more than we are capable of, but He will ask for all that keeps us from Him.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.

                                                                                                             Photo by Max Ilienerwise on Unsplash