[Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 89; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30]
Today we are asked to look at our life and answer the question “how does what I say is the most important thing in my life differ from what my actions tell me?”
In the first reading we hear that true wisdom is more valuable than all of the jewels, precious metals and positions or titles in this world. True wisdom brings true riches and the realisation of the blessings we have received from God.
It is through true wisdom, that we can accept and welcome the words from the letter to the Hebrews, that the Word of God is able to penetrate into the deepest parts of our body and soul; and that God has the power to judge everything we do and think, nothing can be kept secret from God.
We see an example of this in today’s Gospel. Jesus, after hearing the young man profess that he has kept all of the Commandments since he was a child, looked at the young man and was able to see what was holding him back from achieving his goal of inheriting eternal life. “Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him”, Jesus realised he was not just a man of wealth [anyone could probably see that by the way the man was dressed] but that he was a man who craved his possessions and the position in society that his wealth brought him.
Jesus is not saying here that being wealthy is wrong. God knows we need wealthy people to come to church and use their wealth for good. Jesus is saying that the attraction of the things which wealth brings [in other words our reliance or desire for material possessions, power or standing in the community] will hold us back from achieving the true wisdom we hear about in the first reading. That wisdom allows us to see God as our creator and serve him as our number 1; not just fitting God into the gaps we have. God has to be the centre of our life and all of our thoughts, actions and desires, need to be focussed on Him.
Jesus saw that it was the young man’s attraction to wealth that was holding him back.
When Jesus looks at us steadily, what does he see in us, that holds us back?
It could be like the young man in the Gospel, our attraction to the trappings of wealth. It could be that we feel superior to other people. It could be that we are more interested in our work than in living out our faith. It could be that we see the Commandments as inconvenient or that we pick and choose which of the Commandments we want to follow.
When Jesus looks at me steadily, what does he see in me that holds me back from the possibility of inheriting eternal life? At times, I do fit in my responsibilities around other interests, like football, and there are times when I resent that my availability to watch football is reduced because I have made these commitments. This is one thing that holds me back. There are other times when I try to do things under my own power. I am very happy to pray for other people, but when I have an issue, I find myself reluctant to ask others to pray for me. I sometimes even forget to pray for my issue myself. I need to get over my pride and remember that we all form the Body of Christ, if I am struggling and don’t share my struggles; then I am not fully accepting my role as part of the Body of Christhere on earth.
I need to be like the author of the first reading we used today. I need to pray for wisdom and understanding, I need to value that wisdom, that closeness to God more than any other desire. I need to follow the advice Jesus gave to the young man in the Gospel, and abandon everything that is holding me back from inheriting eternal life, because nothing else is more important.
Thinking about our scripture readings today, what do you now need to do?
Further Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 101-104: Christ, unique Word of Scripture
CCC 131-133: Scripture in life of the Church
CCC 2653-2654: Scripture as a fountain of prayer
CCC 1723, 2536, 2444-2447: poverty of heart
Please keep in your prayers this week
- The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
- Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
- The continued success of the Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching programme, which started last week in the pastoral area.[1]
- The fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
- Prisoners, their families, prison chaplains, prison visitors and all in the Prison Service.
- The families who will begin the Baptism Preparation Programme at St Bede’s this weekend.
Deacon Tony
12th October 2024