By Juliana Uzoka
Pursuing inner satisfaction and wholeness transcends earthly riches, as Jesus teaches the young rich man in Mark 10:17-30, that true fulfillment lies not in wealth but in God’s love and acceptance.
Pope Francis submitted this during his Angelus on Sunday, 13 October. He encouraged the faithful to cultivate a deeper relationship with God if they desired to inherit eternal life. He reflected on the rich young man who despite his wealth,” experienced dissatisfaction and restlessness,” in his search for a fuller life.
However, instead of embracing God’s love, which offers true worth and eternal satisfaction, the young man clung to his material possessions, deriving only temporary security and fulfillment.
Vatican News reports that the Holy Father stated that Jesus looks at each of us with great love and calls us to come to Him. However, like the rich young man, we often find ourselves “running to Jesus but struggling to meet His call to “love one another by making our lives a gift for others.”
When self-love gets in the way, we risk denying the love that God offers. “But at this point comes an unexpected conclusion,” Pope Francis observed: “The man becomes sad and goes away. How great and impetuous was his desire to meet Jesus; and how cold and swift his departure from Him.”
Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Jesus wants them to realize that “the good for which we yearn is God Himself, His love for us, and the eternal life that He and He alone can give.” He further explained that true wealth is found in being loved by God, not in earthly goods.
Accordingly, Pope Francis said that Jesus invites us to “take the risk of love”: to stripe ourselves of false securities and be attentive to those in need by sharing our goods, talents, friendships, and time.
In concluding his reflections, the Holy Father urged the faithful to ask themselves, “What is our heart attached to? What makes us truly happy? Do we share with those in need?
Pope Francis reiterated that “true wealth lies not in the goods of this world, but in being loved by God and learning to love like Him.”
TWE Media Network 
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