Father Michael Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 (edited) October 10th, 2021 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time The “Little door of the gate,” called the “Eye of a Needle,” allowed people to enter Jerusalem at night. A Message from Father Michael Today’s Theme: “Renunciation and Stewardship” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Despite his rather checkered reputation and questionable morals, Solomon had his priorities straight when he came to God in prayer (Wisdom 7:7-11.) Successor to his father David, though not the qualified heir, Solomon was designated Jedediah (“Beloved of Yahweh,”) by the prophet Nathan. Even with his shortcomings, when Solomon stood in truth before God, he is said to have prayed not for riches or fame or earthly power or even a long life…but for wisdom. Praying to Wisdom, personified as a woman, Solomon equates the possession of her as his most fervent quest. The “Wisdom of Solomon,” has become an oft-repeated epithet in our lexicon. As with the other “Wisdom books,” Psalms and Proverbs, much beneficial thought and philosophy is to be gained by their reading. ~~~ The book of Hebrews was destined for an audience grown lax with regard to Gospel teaching (Hebrews 4:12-13,)and today’s selection was both a powerful admonition and a challenge to renewed fervor. Christians in Rome were exposed to a variety of religious persuasions, and the threat of combination and, thereby, dilution, of these beliefs with “The Way,” abounded. Some scholars cite the presence of apostates there, whose presence eroded the zeal and faith of their fellow believers. In the face of the Word of God as a “two-edged sword,” revealing God to the believer and the believer to himself, there can be no stagnation or laxity because the Word that reveals also judges with penetrating light and truthfulness. ~~~ “The man’s face fell…and he went away sad.” With these two brief phrases, today’s Gospel selection reveals a touching and telling commentary on the cost of discipleship and the challenge of following Jesus: a total and unreserved commitment (Mark 10:17-30.) The man who approached Jesus is assumed to have been a fervent Jew, and as such, schooled in the Mosaic law and its requirements for salvation. By his question, he indicated his feeling of inadequacy of the Old Law and perhaps a sense that in keeping the Law in its entirety was somehow unfulfilling. His dilemma arose in the realization that the Christian covenant makes even more demands than his Old Covenant observance. The man was called by Jesus to surrender his traditional manner of serving God and to launch out into new, uncharted, and perhaps, insecure, waters. Modern theologians have related Jesus’ comments about wealth to responsible stewardship of the earth and its riches. In the end, Jesus affirms that discipleship, like salvation, is not a human achievement, but a God-given gift. By renunciation of earthly wealth in favor of the needy, Christians become heirs not only to earthly treasures, such as family, and love, but to eternity as well. Sacrifice If you take things away from people, they can become impoverished. But if you can get them to give them up, freely, they are enriched. In spite of the leaning of our Dutch Reformed brethren, we believe people are essentially good. However, this goodness has to be awakened and called forth, if they are to enter the Kingdom of Love. It’s not what we receive that makes us great, but what we give away. It is by giving that we grow. There is a danger that religion can become too easy. All the great religions teach that there is no reward without renunciation—without paying the price. All of us have a deep-seated desire for goodness. We long to do something really worthwhile with our lives. We know that to follow such a dream involves sacrifice, but also brings great joy. It is indigenous to our nature—given to us by our Creator—to have this longing in our hearts. The challenge Jesus gave the young man in today’s Gospel story caused a vision of true greatness to well-up within him. But its price proved to be too costly, and he went away disillusioned. Jesus allowed him to go, because He never forces anyone to give up their freedom of choice. But our Blessed Lord’s admonition doesn’t mean we should all become paupers. The life of the poor, with its hardship and suffering, is not set forth as an ideal for the Christian disciple. But neither is all-consuming desire for possessions and accumulation of wealth. Like our young man, we too sometimes dream of a more authentic Christian life. We dream…but are we prepared to act? We are no better for merely desiring things, unless we strive towards them. For those who do strive, the rewards are great, even in this life, in terms of meaning, fulfillment and joy—in spite of trials and difficulties. But Jesus will not let us settle for an answer that does not demand the best of us. True friends are people who hold us to the best dreams of our youth. They challenge us to the limit of our ability, and beyond, so that thereafter we have new standards by which to judge ourselves. Our modern world doesn’t encourage us to question ourselves—at a spiritual level. Such enquiries are seldom topics of conversation at dinner tables, let alone during typical visits among friends. Usually, we tend to focus more on work, family problems and the political/economic issues of the day. Discussions about moral values and spiritual beliefs seldom happen—and are, more or less, “taboo” in ordinary settings. That is why, during professional counseling sessions, these are the kinds of probing inquiries therapists make. (In quasi-professional groups like AA, Al-Anon, NA, and the like, these topics comprise the most beneficial introspections for successful participants.) We are practical people. We want answers, not problems. Moral and spiritual matters are difficult issues. An American psychiatrist said: “To a large extent our lives are spent avoiding confrontations with ourselves. Most of our daily activities facilitate this. They distract us from ourselves, and from reflection, so that, as a result, we are tranquillized by the trivial.” Like our young man, we stand “on the brink” of a new and exciting world. However, like him, we also know we will have to bid adieu to our “old world” in order to enter the “new world.” When we weigh the value of everything we have in the “here and now,” it becomes a struggle to contemplate divesting ourselves of the many and comforts and pleasures we enjoy. Some people are unwilling to let go of a single one of their old values in order to acquire a new one. If we fear to lose earthly pleasures, we will never taste the joys of heaven. Jesus demands the best of us, just like He did of the young man. He will not allow us to settle for anything less. The challenge—“If you wish to be perfect,”—is applied to us, as well. Of course, the thing we might be called upon to sacrifice in order to take up that challenge will vary for each of us. We have to look into our own hearts to discover what it is that we would have to sacrifice in order to respond to Jesus’ call—and then act upon it. May God Richly Bless You! O Clap Your Hands.docx To View a stream of today's Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/-ZsR5D-ddcE Edited October 10, 2021 by Father Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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