“There is one thing more you must do….” —Mark 10:21
In Sunday’s Gospel passage, a rich man asked what he must do to share in eternal life (Mk 10:17). He had done much, but Jesus told him to do “one thing more” (Mk 10:21). That was the one thing standing between himself and the eternal life he desired. That one thing more was to sell what he possessed, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Jesus (Mk 10:21). This the rich man could not do and he “went away sad” (Mk 10:22).
Through His Word, God has given us much wisdom (Wis 7:7-11) to know what our one thing might be. It behooves us, then, to be grounded in the Word of God. God’s Word is alive (Heb 4:12). The Word convicts us (Heb 4:12-13) and brings constantly to our mind that one thing more God wants us to yield to Him.
Mary of Bethany found the one thing Jesus wanted her to do: to sit at His feet and listen to His Word (see Lk 10:39). Jesus approved Mary’s action and confirmed it by saying: “one thing only is required” (Lk 10:42).
“One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate His temple” (Ps 27:4). Give Jesus that one thing that separates you from following Him completely.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, take not just one thing from me, but take everything. Give me only Your love and Your grace.
PROMISE: “All gold, in view of [Wisdom], is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.” —Wisdom 7:9
PRAISE: Risen Jesus, praise be to You, my God and my All.
From a reflection by a member of the editorial team of the late Fr Al Lauer’s Presentation Ministries)
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John Portelli
