Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 21, 2023
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.
Context. What I wouldn’t give for a little more context from the lectionary! In today’s gospel, a wealthy young man walks away sad because Christ has told him to give away his possessions; it seems as if being rich is an inherent obstacle to getting to heaven. But is it about being rich? Is it about having worldly possessions? Or something else?
When we read this passage, we may be tempted to do some internal calculus: which possessions of mine make me “rich,” and which ones are okay to keep as long as I pursue a life of simplicity? But there is no calculus: Jesus says this is an all-or-nothing relationship.
And here’s where context helps because right before the story of the rich young man is the account of Jesus welcoming and blessing the children. He has just said to the crowd, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The logical next step is for someone to come forward and ask Jesus, “Teacher, what does that actually mean?”
As I reflect upon this encounter, I see it as an exposition of how practical, responsible adults wrestle with the concept of becoming childlike. How many times have I personally said something like, “I trust you, Jesus, but please understand that I need to take care of this critical responsibility myself.”
Children know nothing of fiscal responsibility, paying the bills, and putting food on the table. They rely completely on adults to provide for them and trust that their needs will be met. Through the rich young man, Jesus thus poses the question: Are we willing to put aside all of this world’s “grown-up” things to become utterly childlike in our trust—in our faith—that God will provide? Or will we walk away sad, relying on our own efforts to provide?
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

Any Catholic who received first communion in second grade can thank Pope St. Pius X, who extended the practice to children, saying that “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven.”
Joseph Sarto was born in 1835, one of eight children in a poor family; his father was a shoe cobbler. He was an excellent student, and felt an early call to the priesthood. After his ordinations, he was continually given new responsibilities because of the potential his superiors saw in him. In 1884 Joseph was named bishop of a region in Italy, and he became a cardinal ten years after that. He was elected pope in 1903 and took the name Pius X.
He was a rare pope in that he had extensive experience as a pastor of a parish before his election to the papacy in 1903. He had great concern for the everyday lives of the faithful and had a desire to “renew all things in Christ.” He was known for his simple and clear, direct homilies, and he encouraged all the faithful to read the Bible, which re-energized biblical studies.
Among his lasting contributions to the lives of Catholics: he encouraged frequent reception of Communion; began the renewal of the liturgy, which would flower in the Second Vatican Council; and gathered canon law into one code for the first time. His decree on the age for first Communion allowed children aged 7 and older to receive the Eucharist; the practice had been reserved for children at least 12 to 14 years old.
He was known as a holy man and encouraged personal piety through prayerful devotion and living with humility and simplicity. He had a soft spot in his heart for children—even as pope, he would carry candy in his pockets and walk the streets of Rome to encounter and teach children there.
His will contained one sentence: “I was born poor, I have lived poor, I wish to die poor.” The reliquary chapel in the Basilica contains nearly a dozen of his relics, and the museum in the Basilica holds one of his white, papal zucchettos (the small cap worn by bishops).
Pope St. Pius X, you renewed the Church and profoundly changed Catholic life--pray for us!