Catholic homily on Matthew 19:16–22 of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
August 18, 2025 – Monday
Praise be to Jesus Christ, now and forever!
Do you have everything? Money, Wealth, Friends, but still do you feel emptiness? Today the Word of God is going to stir in you the true insights of real satisfaction.
Once there was a wealthy sculptor who traveled the world to collect finest stones. One day, as he was walking, he stumbled upon an shapeless, rough marble slab seems to be forgotten for long time by the villagers.
Others looked the stone to be useless and just a waste, but this rich man saw it something special. He spend lot of money to shift this stone to his studio. All the villagers laughed at the foolishness of this man. Why he has to waste such amount to money to this rubbish? said all the villagers.
Months passed, now the sculptor had already spent lot of his money, energy and time. People started saying, “Why do you waste your time on thing that is so plain?” But he smiled and said, You do not see what I see. Eventually he unveiled the statue of Jesus made from that useless rubbish stone, all people who saw it stood shocked with wonder.
When asked why he chose that neglected stone, he replied, Because beauty does not depend on what a thing appears to be, but on what it is willing to lose to become something greater.
The young man in the gospel had everything like wealth, respect, and morality, but Jesus invited him to become something more, not by add things but by letting go.
Jesus does not critcize his wealth or his obedience, but he sees his heart. Life with Jesus is not doing more, or having more but loving more. The rich young man’s tragedy is not his wealth but his willingness to enter into deeper relationship with Jesus.
A simple question for you, what would Jesus ask us to let go off, if we asked him the same question today?
- is it our pride? our comfort? our screens? our grudges? or our self-sufficiency?
- What is that ‘richness’ from today’s gospel that pulls us from Christ?
This call is not to give away everything for personal whims but to be radicallly free. That freedom to love, serve and to be led by Jesus. The man walked away sad, not because he lacked goodness but because he resisted to give up his likeness.
Today Jesus is asking you, whether, Are you willing to go beyond simply being good, to become wholly his? He wants our heart more than our checklists of success and achievements.
So let’s ask our Lord, “Lord, What do I still lack?” and let go of all the chains that pull us from him.
Dear Loving Lord, give me the grace to see beyond my actions into my heart. And give me the courage and strength to let go of whatever stops me getting closer to you. Amen.
If this message spoke to you, share it with someone who needs encouragement on their journey of faith. See you soon with another message. Thank You.
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