Twenty-eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

(10/13/2024) Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-30

 

“Give and You Will Have Treasure in Heaven”

 

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo Alban Asuncion

     When Apollo 13 was shot toward the moon, something went wrong. It was on an erroneous course and unless a corrective could be computed, it would never return, and the lives of the three men were doomed. For three days and nights dozens of people at the Space Control Center at Houston in Texas worked frantically while time was quickly running out. Tensions mounted as relatives at home failed to understand the long absence of husband or father, and relations strained. But these men put aside all personal references. They were men for others. Totally unmindful of their inconvenience and distress, they succeeded in bringing the three astronauts back safely and alive. Though the names of the ground crew are hardly known, they had done a singular service to all. They had slaved those three days and nights to save the precious lives of others.      

     Three times Jesus announced to his chosen band that his was a life of sacrifice, a life of total service for humankind, climaxing in his death for them. Each time they failed to enter his thoughts. After the first announcement of his passion, St. Peter even remonstrated vigorously with Jesus, only to be sharply reprimanded by him. After the second announcement, the disciples seem to ignore what he told them and begin to argue among themselves as to who was the greatest. Jesus chided them by saying: “If anyone wants to rank first, he must remain the last of all, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:15). But the lesson was lost on deaf ears. Now after the third announcement of the passion comes the gross misunderstanding from the side of two favorite disciples, James and John, who strike out for highest honor and glory, while Jesus himself had told them he was giving himself to ignominy and death. He had come not to be served but to serve his fellowmen and women. His favorite disciples crave to be served in the highest places of the kingdom. Their ambition is for worldly honors, his one ambition is for the glory of the cross.      

     Of course, this was against all that mankind in his pride had hitherto done. It would take on a new way of thinking. Only the gift of faith could provide such sentiments and stamina. That is why a birth was necessary, and the disciples were to become like little children again in their attitudes and appreciation of values. It would take faith values to enable them to live up to this new pattern which he was giving them. What a striking contrast he then drew on one hand of despotic rulers and a picture of the willing servant on the other. A despot rules through oppression as did the great despots of ancient and modern times as well. Authority is exercised by sheer power and force. All this was farthest from the mind of Christ. There is no need to go beyond our scope of activity to exemplify this principle of service. Everyone is inclined or at least tempted at times to be selfish, to shut oneself up in an ivory castle and live only for one's little ego. But real nobility and greatness of everlasting value throws open the doors and seeks to do all in its power to come to the aid of others.

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Meditation: What gives hope and satisfaction to our desire for happiness and security? A young man who had the best the world could offer - wealth and security - came to Jesus because he lacked one thing (Mark 10:17-27). He wanted the kind of lasting peace and happiness which money could not buy him. The answer he got, however, was not what he was looking for. He protested that he kept all the commandments - but Jesus spoke to the trouble in his heart. One thing kept him from giving himself whole-heartedly to God. While he lacked nothing in material goods, he was nonetheless possessive of what he had. He placed his hope and security in what he possessed. So when Jesus challenged him to make God his one true possession and treasure, he became sad.

Misplaced hope and treasure
Why did he go away from Jesus with great sorrow and sadness rather than with joy? His treasure and his hope for happiness were misplaced. Jesus challenged the young man because his heart was possessive. He was afraid to give to others for fear that he would lose what he had gained. He sought happiness and security in what he possessed rather than in who he could love and serve and give himself in undivided devotion.

The greatest joy possible
Why does Jesus tell his disciples to "sell all" for the treasure of his kingdom? Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. The Lord himself is the greatest treasure we can have. Giving up everything else to have the Lord as our treasure is not sorrowful, but the greatest joy. [See Jesus' parable about the treasure hidden in a field in Matthew 13:44.] Selling all that we have could mean many different things - letting go of attachments, friendships, influences, jobs, entertainments, styles of life - really anything that might stand in the way of our loving God first and foremost in our lives and giving him the best we can with our time, resources, gifts, and service.

The priceless treasure of God's kingdom
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find that they cannot outmatch God in his generosity towards us. God blesses us with the priceless treasures of his kingdom - freedom from fear and the gripping power of sin, selfishness and pride which block his love and grace in our lives. Freedom from loneliness, isolation and rejection which keep his children from living together in love, peace, and unity. And freedom from hopelessness, despair, and disillusionment which blind our vision of God's power to heal every hurt, bind every wound, and remove every blemish which mar the image of God within us. God offers us treasure which money cannot buy. He alone can truly satisfy the deepest longing and desires of our heart. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from seeking true joy with Jesus?

Why does Jesus issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well as to the rest of us who desire to be rich)? Was he really against wealth? We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per se, nor was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were well-to-do, including some notorious tax collectors! One even became an apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the teaching of the Old Testament wisdom: Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways (Proverbs 28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist (Proverbs 23:4).

Where do we find true security?
Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the largest animal in Palestine. The "eye of the needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers when the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized man had to "lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to knell and crawl through it.

Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Wealth can also lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They also neglected to serve God.

We lose what we keep - we gain what we give away
Right after a wealthy young man refused to follow Jesus, Peter, somewhat crudely wanted to know what he and the other disciples would get out of it since they had freely accepted Jesus' offer to follow him unconditionally (Mark 10:28-30). Jesus spoke with utter honesty: Those who left all for him would receive a hundred times more now, even in this life, as well as unending life in the age to come.

The Gospel presents us with a paradox: we lose what we keep, and we gain what we give away. When we lose our lives for Jesus Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and an inheritance which lasts forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a hundredfold. Generosity flows from a heart full of gratitude for the abundant mercy and grace which God grants. And generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life and in the life to come (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38).

What's the best investment you can make with your life now and the future? Jesus offers us an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle us to this earth unless we guard our hearts and set our treasure on God and his everlasting kingdom. Where is your treasure?

Jesus did not hesitate to tell his disciples that they can expect both blessing from God and persecution from the world which is opposed to God and his ways. We should neither be surprise nor fear those who try to intimidate us or oppose us when we take a stand for God's kingdom of truth and righteousness. No earthly reward or treasure can outmatch the joy and bliss of knowing God's love, mercy, and peace and the joy of knowing that our names are written in heaven where we will dwell with God forever. Do you know the joy of the Lord and the treasure he has stored up for us in heaven?

Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and opened to us the treasures of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight and may nothing else keep me from giving you my all.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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