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Gospel Reading for August 18, 2025 – Matthew 19: 16-22
ACTS OF COMPASSION
A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
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Many of us are like the young man in the gospel of today. We think that as long as we follow the 10 Commandments, we will gain eternal life. We think of sin as committing something against the 10 Commandments, and do not think of sin as omitting something we should have done. Jesus did not speak only of the 10 Commandments, he also spoke about the Last Judgment in Matthew 25: 31-46, which is summed up by verse 45: “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.”
If we look at the 3 years Jesus spent in his ministry, he dedicated his time doing good to those who were in need of consolation, inspiration and enlightenment (Matthew 5: 3-12). He went here and there to heal, to feed, and even to bring back life after death. Following the 10 Commandments was not enough for him. There was so much more to do. ACTS OF COMPASSION were of primary importance too in the Kingdom of God.
Lord Jesus, may we live our life the way you did when you walked on this earth!
