# All or Nothing: Giving Everything to Christ
*2018-05-28*

> Bill Young reflects on the Memorial Day theme of total consecration, drawing from the Gospel of Mark and the example of those who gave their lives for others, and urges listeners to consecrate themselves to Mary and Jesus.

## The Theme of All or Nothing

Welcome to Prayer and Lunch. Today, May 28, 2018, we continue reading from the little book *One Bread, One Body*. The title for this Memorial Day episode is “All or Nothing.” The readings remind us that God asks us to give everything to Jesus. Every day we make choices, and the ultimate choice is whether we will go “all in” for Christ.

## Consecration Through Mary

Earlier this month we posted a picture of those who reconsecrated themselves through Mary on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. As Father Michael Galey explains in his book *33 Days in Morning Glory*, consecrating ourselves to Mary is a powerful way to enter more fully into Christ. The classic method is the Saint Louis de Montfort consecration, but Father Galey’s shorter approach can be a helpful start for many.

## The Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17‑27)

In today’s Gospel, a rich young man asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He has kept the commandments since youth, but Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man goes away sorrowful because of his great possessions. The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus replies, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The story shows that the Christian life requires total surrender. The first commandment—to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—calls us to give everything, just as Christ gave Himself on the Cross.

## Living the Call to Give Everything

We hear the example of a young priest, Andrew, who left his job and relationship to answer God’s call to the priesthood. Like the rich young man, we are invited to trade earthly treasures for the riches of heaven. The good news is that God offers us the same opportunity today. The things we must give up are “minor” compared to what Christ gave for us.

God does not ask for 99 % of ourselves; He asks for 100 %. The most effective way to achieve this total dedication, especially for those who have not yet consecrated themselves, is through Mary, as Father Jack McCormick often reminds us: to be a friend of Jesus, we must first know Mary.

## Prayer for the Fallen and Their Families

We give thanks for those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and we pray for the wounded—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and for their families. May the Lord grant them healing and peace, and may we, as a community, honor their sacrifice by offering our whole lives to Him.

*God calls us to give everything, trusting that He will transform our total surrender into eternal life.*