Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 18, 2025
A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
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.”
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;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“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.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.
Jesus sets a standard for us that is as radical and beautiful as it is overwhelming. How do we make sense of this call to sell all that we own and follow Jesus in a world centered around materialism and productivity?
For me, the answer begins with empathy for the saddened young man, but ends with the children who visited Jesus just before today’s reading. After the man leaves, Jesus says to his disciples: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:24) As a child, the image of a camel trying to get through the needle made me laugh. It felt cartoonish, like it might be accompanied by some Looney Tunes sound effects. But as I’ve grown, amusement has shifted to discomfort.
The man comes to Jesus thinking he’s doing it all right, but Jesus says no. “Let the little children come to me…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Mt. 19:14) I believe Matthew deliberately juxtaposes these two encounters: one a model of discipleship, the other an exposé of how far we have to go.
As a teacher, one of my greatest joys is witnessing the stunning brilliance of children. Though my adult brain sometimes bristles at their ridiculousness, thinking I know best, children are a constant reminder that discipleship is not merely ticking boxes on some God-given to-do list of commandments; it is a purity of intentions, a sincerity of devotions, and a willingness to depend on God, even (maybe especially) when God’s providence feels mysterious. The more we can remember that we are and always will be children of God, perhaps the closer we get to fitting through that needle.
Prayer
Father in heaven, we give you thanks for the many blessings you bestow upon us. Like the rich man, we too can struggle with our attachment to the treasures of this life. As we strive to live in ever greater conformity to your Son, help us to free ourselves from worldly possessions. Then, free from those attachments, make us ready for that day when he will return in glory to reign with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Helen did more than perhaps any other female saint (aside from Mary) to spread the good news and establish the faith around the world.
She had humble beginnings—she was the daughter of an innkeeper in ancient Rome. In about 270, the Roman general Constantius Chlorus met her at her family’s inn and married her. When he was made caesar, he was influenced to divorce her; by that time, Helen had already given birth to a son, Constantine.
When Constantius died, Helen’s son, Constantine, was acclaimed caesar by the army. Later, he was declared emperor, and in 313 issued the famous Edict of Milan, which ceased the persecution of Christians and promoted their toleration.
At about this time, Helen converted to the faith. Though she was 63 when she joined the Church, she had great zeal—it seemed as though she were making up for lost time. She wore simple, plain clothes to attend Mass at churches in Rome and supported the poor liberally with the resources at her disposal.
When Constantine’s power spread eastward, Helen visited Palestine to see the places where Jesus lived and died. She wanted to find those places and objects that were sacred to Christians and to preserve them for later generations. She is credited with finding the “true cross” on which Jesus was executed, and she built churches in Bethlehem, on the Mt. of Olives, and over the tomb of Jesus.
She spent the remainder of her life in the Holy Land, praying and supporting the Church there. She continued to live humbly, and when she met pilgrims, she showed them the greatest reverence, even serving them at the table and washing their hands.
She used her position of power to support the poor and those who were suffering—wounded soldiers, mine workers, and the imprisoned. She built churches and adorned many more. She died in 330.
The relics of St. Helen rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, as does a fragment from the true cross that she discovered. She is depicted there in stained glass.
St. Helen, you discovered the true cross and used your power to support the Church, pray for us!
