Finding Christmas December 8 & 9

He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light. Jo 1:8

"It does not matter what you believe as long as you are a good person." If this is true then why evangelize? But the Church is calling all its faithful to do just that, to evangelize. For insight into this, reflect carefully on this passage from Mark's gospel.

Mark 10:
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’”
20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

SOME POINTS FOR REFLECTION

• vs 17 - we are created for a purpose, eternal life
• vs 18 - "goodness" is not something subjective
• vs 19 - to behave opposite to these cannot make you a good person
• vs 20 - the commandments are meant for all - where we start - there is more
• vs 21 - because we are loved we have a higher calling
• vs 22 - popular philosophy - more is better
• vs 23 - wealth needs one's full attention
• vs 24 - to be good needs one's full attention
• vs 25 - there is more to life - what must I let go of - am I willing
• vs 26 - if the world got it wrong who will teach me
• vs 27 - and so we look for those who know ... to testify to the light.

OTHER ADVENT RESOURCES 

Check out WORD AMONG US for more excellent resources for Advent - LINK

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The plan set out for this Advent Series - LINK