"Riches and Things" –the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers: 

The author of today’s first reading understood that “riches were nothing in comparison to God’s wisdom and prudence” (see Wisdom 7:7-11). In contrast, the “rich young man” in today’s Gospel was unable to give up his possessions and follow Jesus. Although he claimed a life-time of complete obedience to God’s Commandments, he learned even more was demanded of him! Therefore Jesus 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.” Unable to do as he had been challenged, the Gospel tells us the young man’s “face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (see Mark 10:21-22). Perhaps these accounts can motivate us to reflect upon our own “riches,” and the “things” in our own lives for which we might place more worth than God and/or his people. 

Do these passages also give us reason to have negative attitudes towards, and to judge those “rich people” who seem to value their wealth more than they do spiritual things? I think not! Or instead, might they merely challenge us (weather we are rich or poor) to reflect upon those “things,” even non-material “things,” we might be tempted to value more than the obligations and responsibilities of our faith? And is it possible they can also inspire us to self-reflect on the values we place on “things,” and how they might therefore and in any way “control” us? 

Isn’t it true all of us probably have “needs” that aren’t really “needs” at all? While I don’t believe our God is offended when we enjoy some of the simple “pleasures of life” (indeed, it may seem such things may just keep us sane!), we may wish to reflect upon those more serious “things” which can become major obstacles to healthy, positive, and faith-filled lives. We may need to ask ourselves if there are “things” in our lives upon which we place great importance, but for which we really shouldn’t. And then we should ask ourselves if these “things” therefore somehow serve to hinder our relationships with God, and with other people within our faith community? Of course each one of us must evaluate those “things” in our lives that occupy the bulk of our attention. And if we determine these “things” (whether great or small) are more important than our relationships with God and others, then our faith tells us today we must get rid of them in order to follow the Lord. 

We may not have so many riches like the young man in the Gospel, but there may be “things” in our lives that prevent us from serving the Lord with our whole heart, mind and soul. Jesus tells us today to reject them in order to serve him completely. And in this way we too will understand there’s “nothing in comparison to God’s wisdom and prudence.” My friends, above all let’s have a desire for the “things of God,” and may we always and enthusiastically understand that by comparison the “riches” and the “things of this world,” count for very little, and/or perhaps for nothing at all! 

Praise God!   Friar Timothy

"Partnerships of Life and Love" –the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

In today’s Gospel the Pharisees questioned Jesus about marriage.  They asked: “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” And in response, Jesus offered what many may believe to have been a very strict teaching (see Mark 10:2-16).  It may even be difficult for us to understand this teaching, especially in our world today as it’s not uncommon to have family members and friends who’ve been married, and then divorced, and then remarried.  This may even be your own personal reality.  And so it must be true that many such people are good and holy, and even though they’ve experienced the pain and difficulties of broken relationships, they may have at last managed to find genuine and committed partnerships of life and love with their current spouses.  And so, why would anyone want to deny happiness to others?  Of course the church must uphold the dignity and indissolubility of authentic marriage bonds, but in our own day it may not be entirely wise to place inordinate emphasis on these seemingly harsh words about divorce (if in fact Jesus’ words were even meant to be “harsh”)!  Rather, wouldn’t it be better for us to focus on Jesus’ affirmation of the great dignity of marriages that have been successful, and not so much on condemning those that haven’t?

About marriage, church law states: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized” (see Can. 1055 §1).  These wonderfully lofty words seem to sum-it-all-up!  But obviously I’m not married, and I’m an “outsider” when it comes to understanding all of the complexities of marriage.  But even so, like everyone else, I too can find encouragement when aware of the successes of those who marriages are strong.  And so, as I reflect on the words of Jesus, and the church’s teaching, it’s easy for me to understand how married couples have a special “sacramental” calling allowing them to model the type of love Jesus has for the community of the faithful, “the church!”

Can’t we say that by their fidelity to one another, spouses model for us how Jesus himself never abandons those who are faithful?  Don’t they show us how Jesus does not leave us when things get difficult?  Isn’t it true they show us how Jesus always remains faithful to us?  Is there no doubt they show us how Jesus doesn’t exchange his love for us for some other type of love?  Don’t they show us how Jesus enables us to be life-giving to others?  Isn’t it true they show us how Jesus loves us totally and completely!  And, all of this being said, isn’t it true most spouses who’ve been successful “partners of the whole of life” say it’s “a lot of work?”  But isn’t this actually the point when contemplating how such marriages model Jesus’ love for all of us (a type of love that even took him to the sacrifice of the cross)?  I think so!

And so, without judging or being “harsh,” let’s always pray with charity and mercy for those who have found themselves in difficult marriages.  But let’s be glad we have a “strict teaching” regarding the never-ending sanctity of love, especially as it’s found between “sacramentally” married spouses!  And so let’s rejoice in those successful marriages always understood as partnerships of life and love!  Let’s affirm those marriages where mutual commitment and fidelity has left no room for selfishness!  Let’s stand in awe of those marriages where spouses have great respect for each other’s uniqueness, individuality, and differences, but who still labor for “the good of each other!”  Let’s delight in those marriages where equality and mutual respect abound!  Let’s reverence those married couples who have brought children into the world, and who have raised and educated their families according to the way of the Gospel!  Let’s be grateful to those wives and husbands who’ve always remained faithful to the dignity of their sacramental bonds!  And may marriages that genuinely reflect Jesus’ love for the community of the faithful, “the church,” always bring joy to those who are married, and also to those who observe even from the “outside!”

And let’s never forget to thank, encourage, and champion those we love who’ve embraced the sacramental vocation of Christian marriage!  We’re so very grateful to you!    
                                                                                     
Praise God!  Friar Timothy