Word to the Wise
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - Tuesday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezek 28:1-10 and Matt 19:23-30]"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." When the disciples heard his, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014 TUESDAY IN THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
[Ezekiel 28:1-10 and Matthew 19:23-30]
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." When the disciples heard his, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
Jesus makes this comment after the rich young man has gone away sad, "for he had many possessions." The disciples are as astonished at this teaching as they were when Jesus spoke against divorce [19:1-12]. Wealth was considered a blessing from God! How could it come between a person and God?
The bigger picture is the constant theme in the Gospel of Matthew of "gift and response." Jesus is offering the gift of the Kingdom. It is a demanding gift that requires one's complete allegiance. The rich young man had a divided allegiance. Those many possessions would require his attention. It is not as if the material possessions were bad in themselves, but they did require him to give his life to taking care of them.
Peter calls attention to the fact that the disciples had indeed given up everything to follow Jesus and Jesus assures them they will not lack what they need. How many of us can take a good long look at what we "have" and ask how much "allegiance" it requires? If we were to ask Jesus, what "What more can I do?" and he responded in the same way as he did to that young man, would we very likely go away sad? AMEN
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