May the Lord bless you with peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 10th October 2021. We celebrate the twenty-Eighth Sunday of the Ordinary Time.
We reflect on Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; and the Gospel of Mark 10:17-30.
Garrison Keillor strongly puts it: “Anyone who thinks sitting in church can make you a Christian must also think that sitting in a garage can make you a car.” None of us become a good Christian by coming to Church, and faithful the celebrations of the Sacrament and doing charity. To be a fruitful Christian means living the values of the Kingdom of God and desiring to experience eternal life. Because God alone can offer us the gift of eternal life.
First reading hails wisdom as the irreplaceable and unparalleled wealth of humanity. When we accommodate wisdom, we obtain everything in life. “All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.” (Wis. 7:11). Solomon claims that wisdom is superior to wealth, health, beauty, and exceptional power.
In the second reading, the author of the letter to Hebrews, describes the nature and work of the Word of God. The Word of God is the wisdom of the Father in the person of Jesus. Nothing is hidden before the power of the Word of God is the claim of Hebrews.
We are all trapped by the power of money. We do not want to let go of the peanuts, the wealth even if we are going through pain. Mark says it is because “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (10:21a). but the young man did not want his wealth to be distributed. What is that we hold on in our life that obstructs our vision of eternal life?
In the Old Testament, wealth and material goods are considered as a sign of God’s favour (Job 1:10; Ps.128:1-2; Is.3:10). Whatever creates false security, Jesus rejects them. In this case, wealth, power, and merit are false security because they become the obstacle to enter the kingdom. No one achieves eternal life on their own but by the goodness of God as a gift.
Many of us going behind the prosperity gospel. That is why we find it hard to share our wealth with the poor and the needy. Our minds are after money, wealth, and riches. “Go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At times we believe that life is meaningless without money, wealth, and prosperity. But Jesus differs in strongly telling us that love of money and sharing the wealth we have acquired by evil means cannot help us to eternal life our complete surrender in Christ. We all need the wisdom to discern and disconnect all that we are holding on to.
As a master was walking amidst the forest near a running stream, he found a valuable diamond. He just kept it in his bag and was travelling on. He met a hungry traveller who eyed on the precious stone the master was having. So, he asked him whether he could have it. Without any hesitation, the master gave him even when he knew the worth of it. The traveller took the precious stone home and hid it so that no thief could steal it. However, he was guarding the precious stone so much, he lost his sleep, time to be with his wife and children and began suspecting everyone including the family member. Feeling so miserable, he came to meet the master who gave the precious stone and told him: “I know how valuable the stone is, but I’m giving it back in the hope that you can give me something much more precious. I want you to give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone without any hesitation.” Yes, Jesus alone can give the precious eternal life we all are after. “But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24). To possess the Wisdom of God, we need to prioritize Christ in our life.
There is no way we can inherit eternal life with wealth, riches, and material possessions. Moreover, there is a meaning for our following the Lord and the reward for our faithfulness is acknowledging and accepting the favour of eternal life to all of us. Two things were lacking in young person. One he could not love the other more than himself. “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Lev.19:18). “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mt.6:24). Most of us trust money and believe that money can do everything for us. Without money, it is impossible to live.
Our undue attachment to money, wealth and riches diminishes our attraction and attachment to God. “Those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Cor.7:31). To be rich is not sinful. Nothing wrong in having money and wealth. But the attitude we develop and dive in that makes us to forget and taking God for granted. “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Lk.12:15). We begin to ostracize people and treat them different once we have the power of money in our hands.
By giving to the poor alone, we cannot inherit eternal life. Many of us think by doing charity with the resources obtained immorally and illegally bring us closer to God and allow us to enter the kingdom of God. Charity is healing, empowering, and cleansing oneself and those who get benefited. But it must be done in a manner that does not question our conscience. We can either follow the laws or follow the Lord. Our relationship with God might be looking right but with one another could be at peril due to our selfishness, choices and positioning ourselves in life. Jesus challenges us all as He did with the young man with the command of go, sell, give, come, and follow. Unless we empty ourselves constantly, we cannot follow the Lord truthfully and experience eternal life. It is by trusting in God’s goodness we will enjoy eternal life.
The Lord laughs at two occasions. When a doctor tells a patient that he can save him from dying and when two brothers or sisters fighting for a piece of land claiming as their own. We need to let go of the grip on the material possession and to hold on to the Lord to experience eternal life.
I would like to conclude the sermon with the Prayer of St. Bede: “I pray you, good Jesus, that as you have graciously granted me to take in with delight the words that give knowledge of you, so you will grant me in your kindness to come at last to you, the source of all wisdom, and to stand forever before your face. Amen. May the Lord bless you and have a week of blessings.