The Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury | Monday 27 May 2024

Today is Monday 27 May, the feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, in the 8th week of Ordinary Time.

IAMSON, Paul Zach and Jessica Fox sing, ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’.

I am weak, but thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Through this world of toil and snares
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is o'er
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 10: 17-27

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’

Here's a young man with a passion. He wants to inherit eternal life, to live with God forever. Imagine him, running up and throwing himself at Jesus’s feet, eager to know what Jesus has to say… how do you picture the scene?

What is it about Jesus that so draws this young man? And what is it about this young man that moves Jesus to look at him with love?

Hear Jesus’s challenge to him to let go of his treasured possessions …. how do you feel about that? And, as you listen to the passage again, notice the young man grieving…

Jesus invites the young man to “Come, follow me” - inviting him to a new way of life. Perhaps you long to follow Jesus more closely; perhaps you feel there is something getting in the way. In your own words, talk to Jesus about how you feel, and hear his response.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.