Word to the Wise
Monday, August 17, 2015 - Monday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Judg 2:11-19 and Matt 19:16-22]Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you hae and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. [Matthew]
AUGUST 17 ST. HYACINTH OF POLAND, O.P.
This incident has been used often to support efforts to attract men and women to religious life as a friar or nun or sister or monk or brother, but it is addressed to all persons of faith and not just to those who are motivated in the direction of a religious order. Indeed, Pope Francis' document, THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL, exhorts all baptized persons to become "missionary disciples." Yet, the challenge to the "rich young man" in this scene is an important one for another reason.
This young man had many possessions but still felt something was missing. The irony of the situation is that it was not so much what was missing but what was present that was causing him to think he was missing something. What was present were his many possessions. They divided his loyalty and attention. In terms of the commandments he was living a "good enough" life. But in the midst of all his possessions, he was crying out, "Is this all there is?" When Jesus tells him that is is more, but he has to give up those possessions to follow Jesus, he goes away sad. One thinks of the old saying, "Be careful what you pray for. You may receive it."
"Perfection" in the Gospel of Matthew means identifying the true obstacles to our faith and following of Jesus and removing those obstacles. (This doesn't include people we dislike!) The process can be difficult as many college students can tell you, who have been through the retreat process of identifying important possessions and then deciding what to give up. Whatever our vocation is - married, single, religious life, etc. - the call is the same. If we get too afraid to ask Jesus the same question the rich young man did, we will be missing out on something very important. AMEN
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