Solemnity of Saint Columba – Mark 10:17-30
What’s the ultimate goal of our faith? It’s beautifully simple: spending eternity with God. Everything we do here – the sacraments that fill us with grace, the commandments that guide us, our acts of charity – are all signposts on the journey home to Him. Without keeping this final destination in view, our efforts can start to feel like just another self-improvement project.
We see this in the Gospel story of the rich young man. He was so close to the truth, yet he walked away sad, unable to let go of his attachments. But what did he take with him? The unforgettable gaze of Jesus, looking at him with love.
That look is for us, too. It’s a light that remains even when we’re lost in the sadness of our own attachments. It’s a restless call in our hearts, a persistent hope that we might turn back and ask again what is most important.
Lord Jesus, when I go astray, look at me with that same love. Let Your gaze be the grace that helps me find my way back, reject my illusions, and desire only to be with You forever. Amen.
