Jesus looked at him hard in the eye – and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me”. The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. (Mark 10: 21 – 22)

It’s Sunday morning. You can tell. People flood to their place of worship and kneel before the symbols of all that brings them joy and happiness in their lives. Unfortunately the temple to which many people make their pilgrimage is the health club, the gym where they look for eternal youth on the elliptical machine or treadmill or stationary bicycle. In so many ways, it is greater source of competition than anything else that might keep people from church.

Others can be found kneeling, but in their driveways. They are polishing the chrome wheels of the car they treat with more awe and respect than any person they know. It has become a symbol, an idol, worshipped at the altar of success and financial independence. The problem is it will rust, scratch, and eventually be left behind for a newer model.

Our bodies are important. But there is more to life than them. Our possessions make our lives pleasant. But we cannot live for them alone.

In the end we will owe an accounting of ourselves to God. What will our lives have shown to have been most important to us; what did we prize the most? Perhaps all of us could see a little more time kneeling in church, or at the side of our beds for that matter, thanking God for what is truly important and showing our gratitude by our actions for all the graces and blessings given to us.