Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time from the Council Moderator

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This question is at the heart of our journey as Catholics. Our faith teaches us that our ultimate goal is to be with God in eternal life. Yet, the path to this end is not simple. As the Lord Himself warns, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (cf. Matthew 7:21).

The readings for today focus on our vocation to holiness. Each of us is called to this vocation because our Heavenly Father is good, and we are to imitate His goodness. Yet, how often do we fall into hypocrisy—claiming to believe, but failing to live out what we profess?

The first reading reminds us that to reach this goal, we must possess the Wisdom of God, which grants us all good things, and prudence, which guides our steps. The second reading provides us with an assurance: we can avoid hypocrisy by immersing ourselves in the Word of God. It is through His Word that our hearts are refined and taught to discern. In living His Word, we find the surest path to draw closer to God.

However, inheriting eternal life is not easy. The road is often difficult, filled with trials, storms, and redirections that God may send to test and purify us. It is not enough to simply follow the commandments as the rich young man in the Gospel did, having observed them since his youth.

Does this mean that following God’s commandments is not sufficient for eternal life? Not at all. But following the commandments without self-emptying leads to blind obedience. What is required is the offering of our whole heart in following the Lord.

In my life as a member of the Third Order of Carmel, we speak of “Vacare Deo,” which means “to make space for God.” In following God’s commands, we must allow Him to work in our lives. We do not follow His commands merely for the sake of obedience but to be transformed by Him. This transformation requires emptying ourselves for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel.

As we follow Him, we must also open ourselves to God’s grace. We offer Him a heart that is pure and filled with love, making room for Him to fill us with His divine life, so that we may become a gift to others.

The rich young man in today’s Gospel had followed the commandments, yet he had not emptied himself enough to allow God to fully possess him. He could not take the next step—to give up all he had, to create that space for God to fill.

For those of us who desire to inherit eternal life, the challenge is clear: we must open our hearts, creating space for God to work within us. We must trust that everything is grace. Our lives, even in their struggles, are filled with God’s grace—grace that is given to guide us toward Him, covered in His love, and strengthening us on the path to eternal life. +JMJ