Every human talent, law or virtue finds its meaning only when it is prompted by charity. In the Gospel, the rich young man observed all that was written in the law, and yet he still admitted that there was something lacking in him. Jesus asked him to go and sell all that he had if he wanted to be perfect or whole. Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had asked his disciples to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (Mt. 5:48). Many of us often feel that there is something lacking in our lives. Like the rich young man, we sometimes try to look for our own perfection or wholeness by accruing a lot of wealth, power, knowledge and fame. Let us follow the example of St. Pius X , whose memorial we celebrate today, by choosing a life of poverty for the sake of others and the Church.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the grace of detachment so that we may place ourselves at your service and the service of our brothers and sisters. Amen.