16-Aug-16

Gospel MT 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Reflection:
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Many things may come with great wealth: power, prestige, influence, as well as a false sense of being secure.
A person of wealth may well think their money will allow them to handle any of life's challenges.
But, the old sayings apply, "Money can't buy health or happiness," and "You can't take it with you."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?”
The disciples were "greatly astonished" because the common belief was that if a person was wealthy, it was a sign that he was favored by God.
They did not understand that God does not take pleasure from the size of our bank account.
He derives His pleasure from the size of our hearts. He delights in our giving His love away, not hoarding it to ourselves.
Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Jesus' words remind me of my mother's saying, "Just do your best and God will do the rest."
As parents love their children equally, so, too, does God love the rich and poor alike.
Today's gospel tells us that God's love is not influenced by wealth or poverty.
Jesus is saying that whether in this world or the next, authentic security only comes from loving one another and putting our trust in God.
"In the twilight of life, God will not judge our earthly possessions and human success, but rather how much we have loved." - - St. John of the Cross