'Everything is possible for God' Mark 10:17-27

'They said to one another 'who can be saved?' Jesus gazed at them. 'For men' he said 'it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.'

Today's readings remind us that we alone can not determine our place in Heaven. We are fully reliant on God's grace and mercy.

“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” #Mark101727

Attachment

From an early age we become attached to people and things in our lives. At our core we tend to be a fearful species, creating systems of habits and routines in our lives to give us a sense of certainty and control. We live in an abundant and wealthy world where the divide between the rich and poor is growing. We also live in a capitalist western world where money and success is used to evaluate the worth of an individual. When Jesus talks to the rich man in today's Gospel, we can identify with his situation. He is a good living man however when he asks Jesus what he can do to secure his place in heaven, Jesus looks at him lovingly and tells him to give up his riches. The man however cannot bring himself to do that, so he walks away sad.

We all have bits of ourselves that we are not willing to give up even if the reward is heaven. We have one foot in the worldly camp and one foot in heaven. We fill our lives with attachments, whether that is wealth, pleasure, success or possessions and overtime these attachments end up controlling us, curtailing our freedom. Jesus is inviting us lovingly to free ourselves from attachment so that we may enter God's kingdom however He knows it is hard for us and reminds us that while it may be impossible for us, nothing is impossible for God.

Today as we approach this Lenten season, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us take an inventory of where our heart's desires and strong attachments lie and resolve to take even a baby step to lessening the strength of these attachments over the Lenten period. We ask for God's grace that this Lenten season maybe a time of renewal and hope as we continue on our journey of Faith.