What does it take to make it to heaven?

[Michie]

Think it’s easy to gain eternal life? Think again. That message lies at the heart of this Sunday’s Gospel, the familiar story from St. Mark about a rich young man who approached Jesus with a sincere question — but who got an answer he didn’t expect or, frankly, want.

Getting into heaven, it turns out, involves more than just being good and following rules. It involves a kind of complete surrender — and for the rich young man, it was more than he bargained on.

The cost of discipleship​

“You are lacking in one thing,” Jesus told him. “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

That’s hard enough for someone young and rich with many possessions; but what about the rest of us? Christ’s message here goes beyond money and wealth. It is not only about the things we possess, but about the things that possess us.

“Children,” Jesus explained, “how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” Only after he said that did Jesus qualify it to refer explicitly to someone with great wealth. The fact remains: salvation doesn’t come easily, no matter what your circumstances in life.

Confronted with this provocative episode, it’s worth asking ourselves: what are the things we own — or that own us — that make it hard for us to enter the kingdom of heaven? What is holding us back or weighing us down?


Continued below.

What does it take to make it to heaven?

Think it's easy to gain eternal life? Think again. That message lies at the heart of this Sunday's Gospel, the familiar story from St. Mark about a rich young man who approached Jesus with a sincere question -- but who got an answer he didn't expect or, frankly, want.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[fide]

Think it’s easy to gain eternal life? Think again. That message lies at the heart of this Sunday’s Gospel, the familiar story from St. Mark about a rich young man who approached Jesus with a sincere question — but who got an answer he didn’t expect or, frankly, want.

Getting into heaven, it turns out, involves more than just being good and following rules. It involves a kind of complete surrender — and for the rich young man, it was more than he bargained on.

The cost of discipleship​

“You are lacking in one thing,” Jesus told him. “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

That’s hard enough for someone young and rich with many possessions; but what about the rest of us? Christ’s message here goes beyond money and wealth. It is not only about the things we possess, but about the things that possess us.

“Children,” Jesus explained, “how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” Only after he said that did Jesus qualify it to refer explicitly to someone with great wealth. The fact remains: salvation doesn’t come easily, no matter what your circumstances in life.

Confronted with this provocative episode, it’s worth asking ourselves: what are the things we own — or that own us — that make it hard for us to enter the kingdom of heaven? What is holding us back or weighing us down?


Continued below.

What does it take to make it to heaven?

Think it's easy to gain eternal life? Think again. That message lies at the heart of this Sunday's Gospel, the familiar story from St. Mark about a rich young man who approached Jesus with a sincere question -- but who got an answer he didn't expect or, frankly, want.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

It grieves me deeply that so few homilies I hear preach against the complacency so common today concerning divided hearts. So many appear to think they have found a happy compromise between God and the world, between love for God and love for this world.

1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.

Do they think God is pleased with human persons made in His divine image and with a "likeness" by design, giving place beside Him to idols, pleasures and ambitions of this world, placing them on altars alongside Him? How small, and thin, and shallow our hearts must be if we cannot discern the difference between measureless beatitude in glory, and the fleeting feelings slipping between our fingers to fall away forever.

 

[Gnarwhal]

What does it take to make it to heaven?​

 

[mourningdove~]

How small, and thin, and shallow our hearts must be if we cannot discern the difference between measureless beatitude in glory, and the fleeting feelings slipping between our fingers to fall away forever.

Sometimes we can discern the difference ... we can see the goal off in the distance ... but we can't always stay focused on it. There can be many reasons for this, things not always one's fault ... but as long as we persevere, the goal will be there waiting for us.

Strong, meaningful homilies do help alot to keep the focus. I appreciate them, whenever they happen.

 

[fide]

Sometimes we can discern the difference ... we can see the goal off in the distance ... but we can't always stay focused on it. There can be many reasons for this, things not always one's fault ... but as long as we persevere, the goal will be there waiting for us.

Strong, meaningful homilies do help alot to keep the focus. I appreciate them, whenever they happen.

It is very, very important to stay close to Truth - to persevere with all the strength we can muster to remain IN Truth. The "remaining" is the key. To remain is a 24/7 imperative for the earnest, faithful soul - and this gets easier with time by God's mercy and Fatherly care. The Son and the Spirit will teach to any who seriously, sincerely seek. A holy priest who taught me so much, once gave a homily (on a passage in John's Gospel) of a single sentence, "I looked and searched for many years; lately, I seek." I think the passage was, in John:

Jhn 1:35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples;
Jhn 1:36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
Jhn 1:37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Jhn 1:38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ["staying" the Gk meno - dwelling, remaining, abiding,]
Jhn 1:39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

 

[mourningdove~]

It is very, very important to stay close to Truth - to persevere with all the strength we can muster to remain IN Truth. The "remaining" is the key. To remain is a 24/7 imperative for the earnest, faithful soul - and this gets easier with time by God's mercy and Fatherly care. The Son and the Spirit will teach to any who seriously, sincerely seek. A holy priest who taught me so much, once gave a homily (on a passage in John's Gospel) of a single sentence, "I looked and searched for many years; lately, I seek." I think the passage was, in John:

That's good.
Thank you.

 

[Basil the Great]

As I recall, Pope Francis recently said that life's final test will be how we have treated the poor and the less fortunate. His statement seems to go along with what Jesus taught in the Gospel of Matthew.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

As I recall, Pope Francis recently said that life's final test will be how we have treated the poor and the less fortunate. His statement seems to go along with what Jesus taught in the Gospel of Matthew

How we treat others is very important but we need to avoid the error of the Free Masons which is it doesn’t matter what I believe as long as I am a good person

This neglects the first commandment which is to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul. God is first

Loving our neighbor does not exempt us from obeying in all humility His holy Church, which is the mystical body of Christ

I am ashamed that I did not realize that until later in life, but it is never the less true. We cannot be righteous apart from God, our righteousness flows from God and not ourselves as is the error of the Masons

We use this thought to discipline ourselves not judge others. If others are in error, we are to love our enemies, not wish curses upon them, rather may God have mercy

 

[RileyG]

As I recall, Pope Francis recently said that life's final test will be how we have treated the poor and the less fortunate. His statement seems to go along with what Jesus taught in the Gospel of Matthew.

Following the Beatitudes in other words? Makes sense to me.