After the excitement of Easter, we are back to ordinary time and green vestments. This can be viewed as ‘boring time’ or as a time of growing. The gospel of today always strikes me as pointing to our greatest problem. The young man in the story has done everything right, but one thing he cannot do.

Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. (Mark 10 17–27)

So we too go away sad and do things in a small, un-heroic way.