Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 13, 2024

1. The world of today can feel great and proud because of its advancement and progress in various fields. But there is one thing that is lacking.

2. This brings to mind the very same remark of Jesus to a rich young man in today’s gospel: “you lack one thing”. He had the sincere desire to inherit eternal life. He had been faithful to keep the commandments of God. But that is not enough. He still lacks something.

3. What is this that is lacking? In the light of the first reading from Wisdom, it is wisdom that is lacking. He lacked wisdom. He lacked the wisdom to realize the value of wisdom. 

4. Wisdom is preferable to sceptres and thrones. In comparison to wisdom, all wealth is accounted as nothing, all gold is as sand and all silver is as clay. She is to be loved more than health and beauty.

5. Lacking this wisdom, the rich young man failed to realize transitoriness, the secondary value of riches. He failed to be aware of the dangers of riches. He failed to detach himself from the entanglement to the riches.

6. He failed to share generously his riches with the poor and needy. He failed to make a choice for the Lord to follow him. He failed to realize that heavenly riches are much more important and lasting than material riches. He failed to realize that eternal life is the most precious treasure than all the earthly wealth.

7. It is in this context that the statement of Jesus makes sense: “How difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom!”, declares Jesus. Yes, really difficult. Why? Many reasons; there are different possible dangers because of riches:

• Riches can make one feel self-sufficient and complacent, a feeling that I am enough by myself, I have enough, I do not need anything or anyone, I do not need God.
• Riches can make one distant from God: when one does not feel the need of God, when one does not realize the role, value, and importance of God in one’s life, then naturally there is the distance from God.
• Riches can make one arrogant toward others. Riches give a false sense of dignity, security, and greatness, a false sense of superiority. One thinks that he is on top of the world and all others are under him; a feeling, I am greater than others, bigger than others. Therefore, there is every tendency to disrespect, degrade and despise others.
• Riches can make one materialistic and earth-bound. Riches mislead one to think that the value of life consists in things, in the abundance of material possessions. Consequently, one will lose sight of the value of human relationships and spiritual concerns. Material wellbeing becomes the norm and goal of the whole life. And so, one easily becomes greedy, money-minded, comfort-seeking, dishonest, and manipulative. Thus, instead of being masters over the material things, one becomes a slave of them.
• Riches can make one prone to bad habits and vices. When there is money, there is easy access to pleasure; money becomes the wide door to all kinds of deviations and aberrations. That is why very often children and youngsters get spoiled and ruined by drugs, smoking, drinking, flirting, etc. because of money in hand. Money is the easy trap for many temptations and attractions. Take away the money and you will see how much bad can be reduced and controlled.

8. Does it mean that rich people cannot be good? Does it mean that rich people cannot be faith-people, cannot be closer to God, and cannot be saved? Does it mean that riches are to be condemned and despised?

9. No. we are not generalizing and categorizing. We are rather speaking of the serious dangers, which are very real in many cases.

10. However today Jesus is showing us the right perspective, the balanced approach towards riches. There are some cautions, some responsible measures, some guiding principles, in the light of Peter’s question and Jesus’ answer.

• First, God and love for the Lord should be our highest priority, and not riches or things. It is this which makes the disciples renounce everything and follow the Lord.

• Second, Make the Word of God the guide and the norm of our life, as the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews extols the word of God. Allow the Word that is living and active, and like a sharp sword to pierce into the deepest recesses of the heart. Lay your life bare before the discerning wisdom of God, in all honesty, and docility.

• Third, cultivate constantly a spirit of detachment, even amidst riches and possessions. We should not be possessed by our own possessions. The root cause of all evil is the attachment to riches.

In this context, it is worth noting what St Francis de Sales admonishes: Let not riches be in your heart and let not your heart be in the riches. But let your heart and riches be in God

We must be like a pharmacist who has poison in his store. But he will not die of it because the poison is not in his body but only in his store. In the same way, we too even though being surrounded by many material things, should not be contaminated and spoiled by them.

4) Fourth, grow in the spirit of giving and sharing. The paradox with riches is: the more we accumulate them, the more we lose them; but the more we use them and share them for good, the more they get accumulated for heaven.

Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 13, 2024