18-Aug-15

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:
"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."
This is a continuation of the theme of yesterday's gospel about the young man who refused to sell his many possessions.
Theologian William Barclay states, "It is not that riches are a sin--but they are a danger."
When we are more focused on our wealth than we are on the things of God then, at the end of our life, we may well be left with nothing but a cold pot of gold.
The disciples had been raised to believe riches were a sign of God's favor. Astonished to hear that it would be difficult for the rich to attain heaven, they asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
In the gospel of Luke, we are told, "While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?"
If, like the Pharisee, we are primarily concerned with outward appearances, but at heart are not concerned for others, we only fool ourselves.
On the other hand, whether rich or poor, if we sincerely care for and help others, we can be sure of God's blessing, for God sees into the heart of every person.
Jesus said, "Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
"All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath. So, what does that make today worth?!"
-- Og Mandino (Author and Speaker)