In the Hebrew Scriptures, wealth and possessions are seen as signs of God’s favor. This is why the disciples are so shocked in today’s Gospel when Jesus says how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! How could the people God favors have a hard time entering his kingdom? If that is true, the disciples wonder, who can be saved?
Jesus’ reply holds the key: with God all things are possible. Wealth, power, and merit tend to give us a false sense of security. They can trick us into thinking we are in control of everything, including our own salvation. But nothing is possible without God. Salvation is God’s free gift, not something we earn, like money or reputation.
Jesus tells the young man that if he sells what he has and gives to the poor, he will store up treasure in heaven. Peter tells Jesus that they have given up everything to follow him. We can imagine the question behind the statement: “What else can we do?” Jesus’ reply to Peter goes beyond giving away possessions to giving up land and even family. To follow Jesus wholeheartedly means valuing our relationship with him above all.
We see this in the first reading about wisdom in words attributed to King Solomon. He says he valued wisdom more than scepter and throne, riches and gems, gold and silver, even beyond health, beauty, and light. Wisdom outshines them all.
Likewise, the reading from Hebrews says that the word of God is living and effective. The Word (or wisdom) of God can discern the thoughts and reflections of our hearts. And in the end, it is to the Word that we will have to make an account. Jesus is the Word of God, the source of our salvation, but also our judge. We cannot hide our intentions from him. He knows our hearts.
Each of today’s readings reminds us that this life is not the end to which we are called. To be a follower of Christ means keeping our eyes fixed on the ultimate good of eternal life with God. Those who pursue wisdom receive all good things with her – countless riches at her hands. Those who give up family, homes, and lands for the sake of the Gospel receive a hundred times more now … and eternal life in the age to come. This is the treasure we hope to possess. This is our inheritance as God’s children. Although this gift is already ours, we can lose it if we become too distracted by the world.
To pursue Christ above all else does not mean that we put blinders on to the rest of the world. It means that we seek Christ where he can be found, in the Eucharist and in those around us.
(Fr. Michał Pająk, OMI, Oct. 13, 2024)
