"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