Word to the Wise
Monday, May 25, 2015 - Monday in the 8th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 17:20-24 and Mark 10:17-27]Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." [Mark]
The man kneeling before Jesus is obviously a man of faith. The gospel tells us that he has kept all the commandments. By kneeling in front of Jesus, he acknowledges Jesus as a holy teacher. The gospel also tells us that Jesus speaks to him out of love, but what Jesus has to say is very difficult and the man goes away sad, "for he had many possessions." We do not know if he was able to do what Jesus recommended. Could he get the one thing he was lacking by giving up everything else?
Jesus uses this opportunity to speak to the problem of attachment to material things. His words astonish the disciples because they regard material wealth as a great blessing. What they do not see is that their lack of it is what makes it possible for them to follow Jesus. This, of course, makes the question all the more challenging. We all have a lot of "stuff" in our lives. i was certainly made aware of it when I recently changed residence and had to drive a rental truck across Texas. Somehow I do my best to "follow Jesus" even with all those books! I do learn in the process what i am "attached to" and I have to ask myself over and over again, "Do I need this, or do I simply want it?" How does anything I possess help me to follow Jesus? I can see why the man went away sad. I hope he was able to give it all a second thought. AMEN
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