28th Sunday of Year B October 11, 2009
Values True and False
This story in Mark's gospel is also told by Matthew and Luke. Obviously, they
considered it to be of great importance. Mark tells it best, building up to the climax in
the final sentence.
The man (Matthew says he is young) was looking for direction in life. When Jesus told
him to obey the commandments, he said that he had kept these from his earliest days.
The young man felt that this was not enough. His generous nature was looking for
more.
Mark then says that Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him. He wanted the young
man to be his disciple, but there was one massive obstacle: Jesus challenged him to sell
all his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and then to follow Jesus. Mark then
gives us the punch line: " ... he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth".
He preferred the security of wealth to the insecurity of following Jesus along the paths
of his mission. With his wealth, he was certain of a very comfortable home, plenty of
food, lots of good clothes and respect in the community.
What became of him we do not know, but we do know that he missed his chance of
real glory as one of the close disciples of Jesus.
Our Lord then gave his disciples a warning: "How hard it is for those who have riches
to enter the kingdom of God!" This shocked his followers. They had been brought up
to believe that riches were a sign of God's favour. But now they are told that
prosperity is a hindrance to entering the kingdom of God.
Jesus' words are addressed to us also. He sees that we are somewhat like that young
man. We are trying to live a good life and serve God faithfully. He also sees that we
could love and serve God better if we could get rid of a particular hindrance. It need
not be great wealth (most of us do not have that problem). It might be putting too
much money on slow racehorses or into the pokeys, too much alcohol, shopping till
you drop, bullying subordinates at work, using influence to get an unfair advantage
over competitors.
In today's first reading, we find an alternative, namely, wisdom. The author says:
" ... compared with her (wisdom), I held riches as nothing." Wisdom is one of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit we receive at Confirmation. Has it perhaps been allowed to lie
dormant in us? Wisdom guides us in sorting out our values in life. Material goods are
important and play a necessary part in our lives. However, wisdom reminds us that we
are children of God, created in love to know and love Him in return. That is the
supreme value and it was summed up by Jesus in the two great commandments.
Every important decision in life must be based on that value.
When Jesus says to each of us: "There is one thing you lack", may the Holy Spirit give
us the grace and courage to get rid of whatever it is that is holding us back and to
follow our Redeemer more closely.
Reg Ahearn CSsR
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
Values True and False
This story in Mark's gospel is also told by Matthew and Luke. Obviously, they
considered it to be of great importance. Mark tells it best, building up to the climax in
the final sentence.
The man (Matthew says he is young) was looking for direction in life. When Jesus told
him to obey the commandments, he said that he had kept these from his earliest days.
The young man felt that this was not enough. His generous nature was looking for
more.
Mark then says that Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him. He wanted the young
man to be his disciple, but there was one massive obstacle: Jesus challenged him to sell
all his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and then to follow Jesus. Mark then
gives us the punch line: " ... he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth".
He preferred the security of wealth to the insecurity of following Jesus along the paths
of his mission. With his wealth, he was certain of a very comfortable home, plenty of
food, lots of good clothes and respect in the community.
What became of him we do not know, but we do know that he missed his chance of
real glory as one of the close disciples of Jesus.
Our Lord then gave his disciples a warning: "How hard it is for those who have riches
to enter the kingdom of God!" This shocked his followers. They had been brought up
to believe that riches were a sign of God's favour. But now they are told that
prosperity is a hindrance to entering the kingdom of God.
Jesus' words are addressed to us also. He sees that we are somewhat like that young
man. We are trying to live a good life and serve God faithfully. He also sees that we
could love and serve God better if we could get rid of a particular hindrance. It need
not be great wealth (most of us do not have that problem). It might be putting too
much money on slow racehorses or into the pokeys, too much alcohol, shopping till
you drop, bullying subordinates at work, using influence to get an unfair advantage
over competitors.
In today's first reading, we find an alternative, namely, wisdom. The author says:
" ... compared with her (wisdom), I held riches as nothing." Wisdom is one of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit we receive at Confirmation. Has it perhaps been allowed to lie
dormant in us? Wisdom guides us in sorting out our values in life. Material goods are
important and play a necessary part in our lives. However, wisdom reminds us that we
are children of God, created in love to know and love Him in return. That is the
supreme value and it was summed up by Jesus in the two great commandments.
Every important decision in life must be based on that value.
When Jesus says to each of us: "There is one thing you lack", may the Holy Spirit give
us the grace and courage to get rid of whatever it is that is holding us back and to
follow our Redeemer more closely.
Reg Ahearn CSsR
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
