Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor...” — Matthew 19:21

At 25, Dylan Wilk became the ninth richest man under 30 in the United Kingdom. He owned one of the largest mail-order computer games businesses in the UK. When he sold the business, he got £2.6 million in cash, and five percent of the enlarged company which valued his shares at £16 million. One night, rich but feeling empty, he asked, “God, why am I rich?” In 2003, Dylan sold his BMW and gave all the proceeds to build a Gawad Kalinga community to provide homes for 80 families in the Philippines. “I learned to know the difference between pleasure and happiness,” he said.

       In the Gospel today, Jesus invited the rich young man to sell his possessions and give it to the poor. Unlike Dylan, he went away sad because he couldn’t part with his wealth even if it only gave him temporary pleasures. But today, the Lord is building a new breed of millionaires who choose to use their wealth for God’s purposes.

       Like Dylan, let us use our financial resources to help us live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbor and build up His Church. Marjorie Ann Duterte (marjorie.travels@gmail.com)

Reflection: God made us rich to love the poor. Can we detach from our wealth when we are called to share and give it to those who need it the most?

Lord, help us to be good stewards of the resources You have entrusted to us. May we use them wisely for the building of Your Kingdom and to serve our brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal, pray for us.

The final line of today’s First Reading is quite scary. Ezekiel tells the people that they will rot in their sins — the time for mourning and weeping, that is conversion, has passed and now the consequences of sin, the tragedy of exile and the destruction of Jewish society is at hand. The consequences of sin are horrible, something society is beginning to realize once again as it confronts all the issues associated with permissiveness and the breakup of the family unit. Selfishness and the obsession with pleasure are wreaking havoc among the youth, to the point where many live totally destructive and irresponsible lives.

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. 17 Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread. 18 That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded. 19 Then the people asked me, “Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?” I therefore spoke to the people that morning, 20 saying to them: Thus the word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword. 22 [24] Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the Lord. 23 [22] You shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread. 24 [23] Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.

R: You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

18 You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you, You forgot the God who gave you birth. 19 When the Lord saw this, he was filled with loathing and anger toward his sons and daughters. (R) 20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what will then become of them. What a fickle race they are, sons with no loyalty in them!” (R) 21 Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’ and angered me with their vain idols, I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’; with a foolish nation I will anger them.” (R)

A holy life is not simply about avoiding sin — it is much more than that. Living a holy life is about actively pursuing conversion of heart and mind to the will of God. The young man is halfway to this goal. He may not be a big sinner, but he is that unwilling to surrender his life to the will of God. The text indicates that his greater focus is the pursuit of material things and wealth.

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

16 A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

think:  Living a holy life is about actively pursuing conversion of heart and mind to the will of God.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Job 14-17

HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL

The story of the rich young man in the Gospel offers many angles for reflection. Jesus’ reply to the question of what the young man must do to attain eternal life is masterful. Jesus challenges the young man to let go of his control over his life, surrender it to God, and let Him direct his life. Selling all his earthly goods will allow him to do that. Oftentimes, our attachment to the things of this world holds us back from greatness or holiness. None of the saints were attached to the pleasures of life. They were content to allow God to control their lives and let Him be their Master.

       The situation of the rich young man is probably true for most of us. If we are honest with ourselves, we enjoy many things in this world and we all try to maximize them in our lives. Is there anything wrong with such an attitude? Not in essence. However, for a disciple of Jesus, there is more to life than the pleasures of this world. Fixing our gaze on the rewards and promises of eternal life ought to govern our decisions here.

       It takes a person of great faith to let go of the pleasures of the world the way Jesus demands if holiness is our goal. Of course, there is a lesser discipleship that makes us conform to a minimalist understanding of the call of faith by avoiding sin and involving ourselves in the ministry and mission of the Church. A disciple truly gives his faith the primary focus in his life. He wants his entire life given to the service of the Kingdom of God. This is what the lives of the saints are all about. They are not interested in giving the minimum. Only the maximum will do.

       Let us pray that we will capture the enthusiasm of the saints as we follow Jesus and give our lives to the service of His Kingdom. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: Which of your attachments can you easily let go? Do it now.

Jesus, help me to let go of my attachments to the world and the pleasures of this life, not because they are wrong or bad, but because I want my life to speak unequivocally of the values of Your Kingdom.