Jesus invites me to follow along with him as a companion in my life’s journey, to be in his company. Does this mean he wants me to take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, to be a religious? No!
It means to be more faithful in the vocation I presently have, to live it with greater confidence in and love for him. A vocation evolves.
The rich young man in today’s Gospel gave proof of such fidelity by the life he was already living. That gave him the ability to hear a more personal call. Jesus was impressed by his moral rectitude. He showed his affection for him and he invited him to take on more challenges.
The Lord is the artist who is continuously molding me. He never leaves me where I have already arrived. So it was with the young man. He was not yet able to answer Christ’s invitation.
This gave Christ the opportunity to explain the significance of renunciation in the life of every Christian. There is no attachment to him without continual detachment from some thing, some one else.
He alone can help me see how I can be his companion, what I should clear away from the path that leads to true happiness. That’s the essence of vocation.