Understanding the Rich Young Man: Insights from Matthew 19:16-26 for Young Catholics

My dear young people, let us ponder upon the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-26. Here we see a man who comes to Jesus seeking the way to eternal life, and Jesus responds by asking him to keep the commandments. The young man replies that he has done so from his youth, and yet Jesus tells him there is one thing he lacks – to sell all he has, give it to the poor, and come follow Him.

This passage is often interpreted as a call to sacrifice, but it is so much more than that. It is a call to put Jesus at the center of our lives and to detach ourselves from anything that could be an obstacle to our relationship with Him. This young man was so attached to his wealth, that he was unable to see the eternal blessings that Jesus was offering him.

As young people, we too can become attached to things such as material possessions, relationships, and status. We must guard ourselves against this attachment because these things can become obstacles that prevent us from loving God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strengths.

But let us also remember the warning that Jesus gave about the dangers of loving money too much. When we love money more than God, it becomes difficult to put our trust in Him and follow His plan for our lives. We must always be vigilant of the temptations that wealth brings because it can lead to feelings of greed and a desire for more, which can distract us from the things that truly matter.

On the other hand, Jesus is inviting us to focus on the things that are eternal and to prioritize them over temporary things. We may be tempted to focus on the things that are short-lived and temporary such as fame and popularity, but Jesus is inviting us to seek after the things that are eternal and to make these our priority.

And finally, let us remember that following Jesus requires sacrifice. He did not come to make our lives easy, but to give us the way to true life. He gave up everything for us, even His own life on the cross, and He is inviting us to do the same. This may mean that we have to give up things we love and hold dear, but the blessings and rewards of following Jesus are far greater.

My dear young people, let us take this passage to heart and let us strive to put Jesus at the center of our lives, detach from anything that could be an obstacle, focus on eternal things, and be willing to make sacrifices for Him. And we will find eternal happiness.