Monday – 20th Week of Ordinary Time B

Today’s readings remind us of the profound gravity of sin in the eyes of God, and the way it shapes our relationships—not just with Him, but with each other and with ourselves. Through the message to Ezekiel and his prophetic actions, we are confronted with the truth of sin’s destructive power, and in the exchange between Jesus and the rich young man, we gain insight into the cost of discipleship and the rejection of sin.

In the first reading from Ezekiel (EZ 24:15-23), we encounter an unimaginable command from God—a command that echoes with deep sorrow yet calls for radical obedience. God instructs Ezekiel not to mourn the death of his beloved wife, for this loss is a sign of the greater tragedy that befalls His people. God is about to desecrate His sanctuary—the delight of their eyes—because of their unfaithfulness and sin. The starkness of this image reveals the severity with which God takes sin, emphasizing how seriously He desires a faithful relationship with His children.

Sin disrupts this relationship, leading to a sorrowful state where God’s people "shall rot away because of [their] sins and groan one to another." Here, we see that sin carries consequences, both in a physical and spiritual sense. It alienates us from the love and mercy of God and places us in a cycle of despair. God desires that we recognize how sin separates us from His sanctuary—the place where we find love, grace, and life itself. He is showing us how incompatible sin is in his all-holy presence.

Then, we turn to the Gospel (MT 19:16-22), where a young man respectfully approaches Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, and the young man proudly proclaims his observance of them, yet he still feels the unsettling question of what he lacks. With love and piercing clarity, Jesus invites him to go, sell all that he possesses, and follow Him. This call is not merely an invitation to detachment from material wealth; it is a radical rejection of anything that hinders our relationship with God. This gospel scene is also emphasizing how much of a battle with our lower selves we must be willing to undergo so as to be more authentic disciples of the Lord.

The rich young man leaves sorrowful because he cannot let go of what he holds so dear. The stark contrast here is evident: the rich young man loves his possessions more than he loves God. In this moment, we witness the essence of sin—the prioritization of personal desires and attachments over divine commandments and the call to discipleship. To follow Jesus fully is to reject sin in its many forms, whether it be greed, pride, or an unwillingness to relinquish control of our lives.

These readings illustrate that sin is deeply rooted in the human condition; it manifests as an obstacle to our ultimate joy and fulfillment. Just as God was grieved by His people’s actions, we too cause God sorrow when we cling to sin. This should awaken a sense of urgency and repentance in us. God detests seeing sin in us not out of judgement alone but from a place of divine love. He desires for us to be free from the burdens that sin places on our lives. Avoiding sin then, with all our strength and capabilities, is an important part of doing God’s will.

Let us reflect on how much God loves us in wanting to liberate us from the heavy chains that ensnare our souls. He wants us to recognize the areas of our lives where we prioritize earthly attachments over eternal values. God calls us to be like Ezekiel—not in the suffering we endure but in our willingness to obey Him completely, even amid loss. In following Jesus, we find a path that leads to authentic joy, one that is rooted in love, service, and the hope of eternal life.