Good morning, Good People,
May the Lord give you peace, health and happiness in the Holy Spirit. It is 18th August 2025.
We reflect on Judges 2:11-19 and the Gospel of Matthew 19:16-22.
Leaving behind what is evil and embracing what is good is always a challenge. It depends on how firmly we keep God at the centre of our lives.
The people of Israel, forgetting the Lord, turned instead to idols and petty gods, believing they would bring strength and prosperity. This repeated distraction led them away from the paths of truth, justice, and peace. The Book of Judges reveals this vicious cycle: Israel abandoned God, faced the consequences, and then was restored by the Judges whom God raised up.
Yet, the longing for eternal life never dies within us. The desire to be with God keeps drawing us back to Him. In the Gospel, the young man faces the same challenge. Letting go of his possessions for the sake of the poor was a demand too heavy for his heart.
Unless we let go of what falsely secures and comforts us, we cannot truly experience the hand of God. Doing good out of fear of punishment is not enough. What the Lord asks of us is a heart that responds to the cry of the poor. When we meaningfully address their hunger and suffering, the Spirit strengthens us to face even the anger of God.
St. Teresa of Avila reminds us: “Christ does not force our will; He takes only what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him.”
So too, our Christian life cannot be fruitful without sharing the fruits of our labour. Keeping commandments is not enough; we must open ourselves to the struggles of the poor. As Jesus told the young man: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mt. 19:21).
May we set our relationships with the poor in order, and through them deepen our commitment to the Lord.
Have a lovely day. God bless you.