20 August 2018 - what we still lack

"“What we love we shall grow to resemble.” 
― Bernard of Clairvaux

Today's Readings (Audio)

"All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?"
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."

Most of us have some baseline discipleship. We typically follow the commandments and avoid grave sin. This is probably sufficient to gain eternal life if we persevere. But perhaps we have a sense that something is still missing. We intuit that more is possible.

What do I still lack?

We realize dimly that there are things in our lives that keep us from following Jesus as closely as he wants us to follow him. We suspect that true fulfillment can only be found when we follow him with abandon.

Then come, follow me.

We need to figure out what are the "possessions", physical or otherwise, that keep us from following Christ. It is better to consciously recognize these things and surrender them to God. If we do not, circumstances eventually conspire to force our choice. Will we prefer anything whatever to Christ? (see Rule of Saint Benedict Chapter 22) When it comes to this question we have the option to either make an idol of our distractions or to cast them down. We often choose to get lost in the good things God has made without remembering the God who blesses us with them.

You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you.
You forgot the God who gave you birth.

Lest our sins cause us to rot away let us cast off anything that hinders us from following Christ. When we see backsliding or a lack of progress these attachments are often part of the problem. When we do try to make changes we may feel resistance in our response to Jesus. At such times let us ask him for grace. We'll never be free unless he himself gives us the freedom. We'll never be able to surrender control unless we surrender it in trust to him. Jesus sustains all things. In him we have all riches. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Then come, follow me.