Welcome back to Ordinary Time! I hope your Lent and Easter seasons were fantastic! For our first reading today, we begin the first letter of St. Peter. Today we hear St. Peter reminding us that we will “suffer through various trials.” But this suffering is not worthless. It will help us to “attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.” Thank God for suffering!
Our Gospel reading today is from Mark 10. It is the story of the encounter between Jesus and the rich young man. You know the story. Jesus tells him that he must “sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Of course, the rich young man couldn’t handle this, so he went away sad. Jesus tells the disciples, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” The disciples ask, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus replies, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Of course we know that this is true. After all, God is God. He can do anything. But we must always remember that God is not some kind of supernatural magician. We must be cooperators in God’s plan for miracles to happen. Some would say that that is not true. But the cooperation we must provide is simply faith. St. Peter talks about faith in the first reading, calling it “more precious than gold.” Yes, you know in your head that God can do anything. But do you believe with your heart?
Father, give us faith. Faith to know in our heart of hearts that you can do anything. Heal us today, Lord; for with you, all things are possible. Amen.
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