Sixty-second reflection: February 28

Today is the last Monday in Ordinary Time before Lent begins. LENT, ya'll. The readings today are good lead-ins to Lent (not a coincidence). These are the bits that stood out to me in prayer this morning:

...a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing."

At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad...

We want an "easy religion."

So I  pictured this guy running up to Jesus... running up to catch him maybe. Which makes me think of someone running up to get a celebrity's autograph. But based on his question, I think he may have been looking for an "atta boy" because when Jesus tells him that he knows what to do  - obey the commandments - the guy in effect says, wait a minute I already do all that, aren't you going to tell me "good job?"

I think we want an easy religion. We really want an easy "everything" - or at least I often do. I want to know how to lose weight, but I don't want to diet or exercise. I want to learn how to play an instrument, but I don't want to be a beginner, or practice. Like this guy, I want to know how to inherit eternal life, but do just the bare minimum. Nothing too hard, please, Jesus. 

The same guy that jogged up to Jesus all ready for his approbation, went away sad. Kicking dirt. For this guy, his stuff was holding him back. For another person, it could be something else - a vice, a relationship, an attitude. 

I think we know when we're being pushed to not be just "better" or "nicer" or an outstanding rule follower, but to be holier.  

What is my one thing? What's yours?

Full readings here.