Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11, Ps. 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30
“With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)
Last Sunday, Jesus was asked about divorce. His answer (shocking to his listeners and even to many today) was that from the beginning, God never intended marriage to have an expiry date. “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12).
Today, Jesus is asked another question, this time by a rich man. Unlike the Pharisees who asked Jesus about divorce to test Him, this man was moved by a genuine need to know the secret of securing his wealth for eternity. This man deserves praise because he acted wisely by asking Jesus such an important question. Foolish people never ask questions because they assume they know everything.
Like last Sunday, Jesus’ response was shocking: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, then come follow me.” As in the issue of divorce, Jesus appears to be asking for the impossible. Let us now consider some salient lessons in today’s readings:
1. Following Christ is Difficult But Not Impossible
Being a Christian is not by force. It is a choice. The problem many of us have is attempting to identify with Christ even while rejecting Christ’s teachings. We want to follow conventional wisdom (the way of the world) and still claim to be Christians. Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and many enter by it. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
It is hard to repair a troubled marriage, to seek reconciliation and healing when the other party is not listening or trying to improve. It is also hard to give away one’s riches, especially in today’s economy. However, these difficult things make us different from the rest of the world. Doing what the world considers foolish or impossible makes us shine as bright stars amid the darkness and evil surrounding us today. For instance, Jesus said: “If you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:47). Is it easy to greet (or make peace with) someone who is bent on quarrelling with you? Is it easy to help poor people that you don’t know?
Are you struggling to accept Jesus’s teachings? Does the cross seem too heavy for you? Ask God to help you. Prayer is the key. Jesus says: “With men, it is impossible.” Relying on your strength alone (intelligence, money, self-discipline, connections, etc.), you cannot be Christian. You must be connected to God through daily prayers to gain the strength to live out your Christian call. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). We need God’s grace.
2. Keep God’s Commandments
When the young man asked about eternal life, Jesus’s initial response was: “You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19). You would notice that Jesus references the Ten Commandments but omits some of them and He seems to have begun with the fifth and ended with the fourth. The point is that making heaven does not require anything extraordinary. You must not sell everything you have and give them to the poor.
Let us examine our conscience. Am I guilty of killing (by words, deeds or even through hatred for others)? Do I sleep with (or look lustfully at) one who is not my wife (husband)? Do I take what is not mine, tell lies, or cheat others? (These sins have brought our dear country to its knees today. Massive corruption. Lies here and there. Looting of national treasuries). Do I respect my parents (and those who care for me)?
Once again, we must praise this man because he said: “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” (Mark 10:20). This teaches us that it is possible to be wealthy and holy. Many young people wrongly assume that to be rich in today’s society, you must be involved in evil. There are many rich people whose hands are clean. Do not be deceived; the devil cannot give you what he doesn’t have. Be diligent, and you will eat by the labour of your hands. (cf. Psalm 128:1-6). “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
3. Do Not Trust in Riches
When the young man said he had kept all the commandments since his youth, Jesus did a 360-degree scan on him. If he were telling lies, Jesus would have known. However, Jesus discovered a serious defect: this man trusted in riches. He thought his life depended on his wealth. His conscience was not at rest; he knew he lacked something, which pushed him to come to Jesus. Do you feel a similar emptiness in your heart? Have you attained success yet feel that there is something more God requires of you? Jesus is saying to you today: “Give to the poor. Become a blessing to others.”
We are all feeling the heat of our present socio-economic crisis. This is not a time to buy what you don’t need to impress people you don’t like. This is not the time to store up treasures for yourself on earth (cf. Matthew 6:19-20). This was not the time to act like the rich man whose lands yielded in abundance, and he made no plan to help the poor. God said to him: “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)
This is not the time for useless competition – throwing unnecessary parties to make a name. This is not the time to behave like the rich man who hosted parties in his house daily but never noticed Lazarus covered with sores at his gate. (cf. Luke 16:19-31). How can you have so much to waste when people are out there eating sand to stay alive? The rich man walked away sorrowfully because he was unprepared to give away his riches (his idols). Jesus said: “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23).
Do not become a prisoner of your riches. No matter how much you have or how little it seems to you, remember the words of Job: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.” (Job 1:21). Since you brought nothing to this world, you can still survive without your riches – do not trust in your riches.
4. Riches will Fade, but Wisdom is Eternal
Our first reading today says: “I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.” (Wisdom 7:7-8). This reminds me of King Solomon. At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “Give thy servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil.”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour so that no other king shall compare with you all your days.” (1 Kings 3:5-13)
How do we pursue wisdom like Solomon? Read good books. Read the Bible. Today’s Second Reading says: “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12). The world’s wealth is nothing compared to God’s words. And if you meditate on God’s words, riches will come to you. “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have success.” (Joshua 1:8).
Conclusion: Fear Not - With God, all things are Possible
Fear is our greatest obstacle to following Christ. We are scared that we will be poor if we don’t pursue riches. We are scared that if we love our neighbour as ourselves (make our marriages work), others will trample upon us. We are scared that if we help the poor, they will not appreciate our goodness, and we will become poor ourselves. We are scared that if we prioritise God, we will not enjoy the things of this life.
Even Jesus’s disciples expressed this fear: “We have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:28-30).
Trust God. Now that things are really bad in this country, find a way to help as many people as possible. Do not be afraid. God will not let you suffer. He will keep blessing you as you bless others.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, help us find joy in serving you wholeheartedly. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Wisdom 7:7-11, Ps. 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu