Monday, August 18, 2025
First Reading: Judges 2:11–19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106
Response: “O Lord, remember us with the favor you show to your people.”
Gospel: Matthew 19:16–22
The Mass Reflection
The first reading reminds us how quickly Israel turned away from God whenever their leaders were not watching them. They seemed to need constant supervision, judges, prophets, or leaders, to remind them to remain faithful. The moment that guiding presence was gone, they abandoned God for idols. This was also what happened when Moses was on Mount Sinai meeting with God. Only his return, they were happily worshipping a golden calf and forgot all about what God did for them already.
This raises a deep question for us today: Are we living our faith out of conviction, or only because someone is “supervising us” us? Most people like me at work I don't do well with "uppers" constantly breathing down on us. We can do better without being policed. We all know what the right thing is and can do it when no watched. That should be our attitudes towards God.
Do we pray, give alms, go to confession, and offer thanksgiving only because others remind or pressure us, or because we truly love God?
A faith built on looking good in the eyes of other people cannot last. But a faith rooted in love, the heart, gratitude, and conviction flows naturally, even when no one is watching. God calls us to be mature children, not those who only obey when the cane is behind them. He wants us to choose what is right out of love, not out of fear.
In today’s Gospel, the young man asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. When Jesus told him to give up his possessions and follow Him, the young man went away sad as depicted above in the picture because, as the Bible says, he had great wealth. Like him, we may appear outwardly faithful, but are we still holding back something in our hearts while in pursuit of God? What are we clinging to that keeps us from giving our all to God?
Let us pray for the grace to do good freely, with conviction, and out of love for God who has always loved us first.
God bless you.
Have a wonderful week.
Pal Ronnie
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