Today’s second reading and the Gospel tell us that we are to look upon our most precious things in this world (our property, our earthly joys and even our sorrows) as if they were already gone. This earthly world that we all cling to is passing away. As St. Paul tells us, time is running out. God asks us to give up these earthly goods as foremost in our priorities. We would be wise to do exactly what the first four disciples did when Jesus asked them to follow Him. Mark’s Gospel tells us that all four fishermen (Matthew, Andrew, James and John) called by Jesus immediately followed Him, without even picking up their nets! Now, 2000 years later, God does not demand that we leave our homes, our families or our jobs. But we are called to get our priorities straight, including our personal relationship with God. And this is the reason the word “immediately” is so important and one that Mark uses frequently in his Gospel. The word signifies the present time. The past is behind us while the future is unknown, and tomorrow is promised to no one. The point of this Gospel reading for each of us is that time is of the essence. St. Paul reiterates this point in his second letter to the Corinthians, “Now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) God is always calling us to follow Him and to give Him our whole self, not just an hour here or there when it’s convenient. Christ showed the depth of His love for each of us when he suffered and gave up His life on the Cross. By doing so, he opened for us the gates of salvation and eternal life. So let us receive His love in our hearts and return that love to Him and our neighbors today and every day as if our life depended on it. Because it does!