28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrew 4:12-13; Mark 10 17-30
The first reading speaks of the wealth that is found in Wisdom. It provides true happiness and frees a person from fear. True wisdom cannot be acquired by human initiative. It is a gift from God. King Solomon prayed for wisdom and when he received it, he treasured it.
Our responsorial psalm reminds us of the shortness of human life and prays for that wisdom of heart that yields fruit in love and joy.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is approached by a wealthy man who is wise enough to seek his advice. All his riches have not satisfied the deepest longing of his heart. He yearns for “something not sold for a penny in the slums of mind” (P. Kavanagh). So, he asked Jesus “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life”? (Mk.10:17) Jesus answered by reminding him to observe the commandments of God. Keeping the commandments is essential. We must know them and do them. But Jesus asks more; “Go sell what you have and give the money to the poor.” This can mean many things.
It means learning to trust God, really trust him. Most of us do not trust him, we fear him. We learn trust only as a last resort; only when our life or the life of loved one is at stake. Trusting in God is a form of poverty because it means that we believe God loves us not because we are good, not because we give a lot to worthy cause, not because we are Catholic, but just because he made us and makes us lovable.
“Go sell what you have…” may mean learning compassion for the welfare mother, the refugee clamant, mentally challenged. With compassion, we discover that we are fundamentally like the other in some essential way. I may not be mentally handicapped, but I am handicap emotionally, or socially. I may not be on welfare, but I understand what it is to be dependent in a humiliating way. I may not be a refugee or alien, but I remember what it feels like to be snubbed, to be exclude, to be told that you are not wanted.
What we can do is to live inwardly and outwardly a little more detached from our wealth. The young man was attracted by the wisdom of God but lacks the courage and self–denial necessary to possess it entirely. Discipleship has its price, many of us are like the rich young man who finds it a bit higher that what we expected to pay. Sadly, many of us walk away still with our riches but all the poorer.
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