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Shopping Cart or Backpack

The Gospel for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 10:17-30) gives us the image of a wealthy man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He has followed all the commandments since he was young. Jesus looks at him with love and says that simply following the rules isn’t enough; eternal life requires something deeper. He invites the man to leave the spirituality of his youth behind and take on a new spirituality which requires giving everything up for love. The man was filled with sorrow because he had many possessions. How many of us understand what it means to follow Jesus? The fear of losing our earthly comforts can hold us back.

Short Reflection

Imagine your home is on fire and you only have time to fill a shopping cart. What would you take? Our possessions bring us comfort, but they aren't essential. When faced with an urgent decision, what truly matters becomes clear. Imagine pushing around a cart filled with things that are not really necessary for your daily bread. How heavy does that feel? Wouldn't it be more freeing to carry a small backpack filled with only the essentials? It’s not about having nothing, it is about being free from the need to have everything. By lightening our load, we can open our hearts to a deeper connection with God and others. It is a journey that invites us to walk without the burden of what we possess but liberated by the love we are called to share.

Living the Message

Let’s push aside our shopping cart and pack our backpacks with what really matters: love, kindness and faith. True freedom is not in what we possess but in the love we are called to give. This journey is open to everyone and it’s free, liberating and waiting for us to embrace.