28^th.Sunday of the Year - B

Wisdom 7: 7-11; Psalm 89; Heb. 4: 12-13; Mark 10: 17-30

Read: Jesus was setting out on a journey to Jerusalem when a man ran up to him, knelt before him, and said to him: “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must no bring false witnesses; You must no defraud; Honour your father and mother.” And he answered: “Master I have kept all these from my earliest days. ”Then Jesus looked steadily and lovingly at him and told him: “There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.” But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Jesus then looked around and said to his disciples: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus repeated: “How hard it is my children to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were more astounded than ever, and said one to another: “Who can be saved?” Jesus gazed at them and said: “For men it is impossible, but not for God; because everything is possible for God.”

Reflect: Last Monday was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis once said: “Remember that when you depart this life you will not take with you anything that you will have received, but only what you will have given.” These words of St. Francis embody the entire message of God’s word for today. How appropriate this message is for today’s human beings who appear to appreciate all that is touched – one’s profession, scientific research, friendship, family and sometimes also religion, so long as this produces money.

Jesus’ proposal which was made lovingly to this young man can be interpreted as follows: “Dispose of all you own, do not throw it away, but give it to those in need. You will remain poor and God will be your treasure.” This proposal which God made to each of his disciples demands that those concerned do not continue to make egoistic use of not only their money, but their intelligence; health; time; all capabilities received from God. One cannot be a disciple of God if one holds on to his wealth, and is not ready to share all he owns with those in need.

Pray: Lord, shed on us a look of love. Heal our heart that remains eager to possess even more. We thank you and praise you for life, happiness, and the health given us through the money we own. We ask forgiveness for all the damage and harmfulness made by us not only to ourselves but also to others.

Act: Happiness is sown only in a heart that is unburdened and full of all that nurtures life! Thus, it is necessary that you are prepared to share everything so as to have everything: “Verily do I tell you that all those who, because of me and the Gospels, leave their home or their brethren or their mother or father, or their children or their fields, there is nobody amongst these who, from this moment, in this very world, will not receive, more than one hundred times: houses, brethren, male and female, mothers, children and fields together with persecutions, and a future life everlasting.