Unless we ask questions we will never come to know the great Hidden Truths

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

20^th Week – Monday

Gospel – Matthew 19: 16-22

 

 Unless we ask questions we will never come to know the great Hidden Truths

 “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”

 1) Wonderful and Practical Question

The above question is very practical and applicable to all. 

This is a question which makes us to think about the eternal life and our position in the journey towards eternity

This is a Wonderful question because 

It makes one to think about the purpose of His life 

It makes a person to think about his/Her very existence and aim of His life 

It makes a person to think that he has to do something good in order to inherit the eternal life 

It is a question which makes a person to know more about his life and to realise what one is doing in his/her life 

This is a question which is applicable to all irrespective of  time, place, colour, creed, culture and the situation in which we live in.

2) We must really appreciate this Young Man

This young man is of different caliber

He didn't ask this question to Jesus in order to test Jesus or to trap Jesus, unlike the Pharisees and scribes who wanted to trap and test Jesus 

It appears that He asked this question with genuine intention of knowing about the eternal and and attaining of the same 

As such his intention is very good and very meaningful and it is something which one ought to know about the eternal life to live ones life according to its demands. 

We must appreciate the young man since he is reflecting about the eternal life, because usually young people hardly think about such important question and it does not matter to them at all

We must appreciate the Young man because he found a right person to clarify his question 

We must appreciate the young man because he was able to accept Jesus as the Teacher and Master and he also had the humility to ask Jesus about this matter 

3) The Speciality of this Question

The young man asks about eternal life and not about worldly life. 

The young man asks about what deeds he must do and not what others have to do 

The young man asks about *Good deeds* and not any other deeds 

His whole attention appears to be on eternal life and not on some fantastic achievements, or attaining power, position, wealth and riches. 

So this question has a deeper value to the Young man and also to us.

4) This particular Question clarified all His Doubts

With the intention of clarifying his doubts he approached Jesus. After having met Jesus it was very clear that all his doubts were clarified 

To the question "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus gave complete answer. 

This answer has two parts : first part tells about observing all the commandments second part challenges him to sell all his possessions and to follow Jesus 

So this appears to a complete but very challenging answer to the importance question of attaining eternal life. 

5) Young Man remained only at the level of clarification

This is the tragedy of the Young man. 

He began with good enthusiasm, with right intention and approached the right person for the right clarification. 

At the end of the episode it appears that the young man had no further questions on attaining eternal life and the good deeds that he had to do in order to attain eternal life. 

So there was perfect clarification and he understood the things he had to do for attaining his goal 

But he remained only at the level of clarification

6) The only man who went away sad was this Young man

In the public ministry of Jesus there have been thousands of people who approached Jesus for different things 

All of them went back very happily because they experienced the power of Jesus in their life 

The only man who went away sad was this young man 

He came with lot of enthusiasm and interest. But at the end he was sad and went away sad. 

That is the tragedy of his life 

7) What type of questions do I have in my life?

Young man had question regarding eternal life. What about me? 

Do I have questions about attaining eternal life or Worldly life, which includes all worldly pleasures and worldly glory? 

If at all I have some questions about eternal life the full answer is found in Jesus/Gospels. 

After having clarified the questions regarding eternal life,  am I ready to challenge myself or will I escape from the challenge? 

Accepting the challenge will make me happy with the reward of eternal life whereas escaping the challenge will result in sadness and losing of eternal life 

Choice is ours? Think and act

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore