Attachments

Mark 10 : 17 - 27

...he went away sad.....

We are always warned in the spiritual life about 'attachments' - these are those things that keep us earthbound, whereas God draws us in order that we might soar with him heavenwards. This little story about the rich young man epitomizes the danger of attachments. And also the desire of our Lord that we may be free from them. Jesus certainly did not want the young man to 'fail the test' . In fact, Jesus looked at him and loved him.......but Jesus knew what lay within him. He was doing really well in spiritual matters, but there was an underlying attachment that would become the stumbling block for him.

I believe that when we think back over our lives, there would be times when we did offer to the Lord our talents, our service......and many other really 'spiritual' things and yet held back on the 'one thing'....It is really amusing and yet quite sad that we should do so. Even busyness for the Lord can be a cover up for an attachment that we do not want to look at.

But our Lord will not leave us that way for long. In his love he wants us free and he will challenge us at some point. Jesus looked at the young man and loved him. I wonder if the young man was aware of that and whether he caught Jesus' glance. Perhaps he didn't, perhaps he couldn't look straight at Jesus. But maybe today, if we keep looking into Jesus' eyes of love, we may not only hear his challenge but receive the grace, humility and courage to release the 'one thing' we lack.