July 20, 2026. Gospel: Matt 19:13-21. St Jerome Emiliani, Confessor

13 Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.Tunc oblati sunt ei parvuli, ut manus eis imponeret, et oraret. Discipuli autem increpabant eos. 14 But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.Jesus vero ait eis : Sinite parvulos, et nolite eos prohibere ad me venire : talium est enim regnum caelorum. 15 And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.Et cum imposuisset eis manus, abiit inde. 16 And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?Et ecce unus accedens, ait illi : Magister bone, quid boni faciam ut habeam vitam aeternam? 17 Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.Qui dixit ei : Quid me interrogas de bono? Unus est bonus, Deus. Si autem vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata. 18 He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.Dicit illi : Quae? Jesus autem dixit : Non homicidium facies; non adulterabis; non facies furtum; non falsum testimonium dices; 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.honora patrem tuum, et matrem tuam, et diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. 20 The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?Dicit illi adolescens : Omnia haec custodivi a juventute mea : quid adhuc mihi deest? 21 Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.Ait illi Jesus : Si vis perfectus esse, vade, vende quae habes, et da pauperibus, et habebis thesaurum in caelo : et veni, sequere me.St Jerome, of the noble Venetian family of Emiliani, left everything and became the Father of orphans and of the poor. He founded the Order of Somascha for the education of children. He died a victim of the plague A.D. 1537.1. Jesus is inviting the young man to think more deeply.The young man calls Him:“Good Master”but he may be using “good” simply as a polite title. Jesus’ question:“Why dost thou call me good?”is meant to make him stop and ask:“Do I really understand who this Teacher is?”Jesus is not saying, “I am not good.” He is saying, in effect:“If you call Me good in the fullest sense, then recognize what you are saying—because only God is good.”2. Jesus is affirming the source of all goodness.The statement:“There is one good, God”is completely true. All goodness comes from God because God is goodness itself.As the Son, Jesus is not a separate god competing with the Father. He shares the same divine nature:The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God. Three persons in one God.3. Jesus often reveals His identity gradually.In the Gospels, Jesus does not always immediately say, “I am God.” He reveals Himself through His words and actions:He forgives sins (Matthew 9:2–6).He accepts worship (Matthew 14:33).He says, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).He says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).4. There is also a beautiful connection to the commandments.Jesus responds by saying:“If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”The young man says he has done these. Then Jesus gives the final challenge:“If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.”The ultimate command is not merely to follow rules—it is to follow Christ Himself.So the irony of the passage is profound:The young man asks:“What good thing must I do?”But the answer is not a thing. The answer is a Person.He is standing before the One who is Goodness itself, but he does not yet recognize Him.