By Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
28th Sunday of the Year – Cycle B
Readings: Wis 7:7-11; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30
“I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with wisdom” (Wisdom of Solomon 7:8)
Three Scriptural Signposts:
The Book of Wisdom was written by a Greek-speaking Jew in the first half of the first century BC. He extols wisdom since it is the greatest gift that God can bestow upon someone. Remember, Solomon begged for wisdom when he could have asked for anything else: power, money, armies, property, strength, etc. All these perishable goods fade into insignificance before the radiance of true wisdom, which the wise (wo)man prays for, chooses, uses, and is ever grateful for. Today, let us pray to be wealthy with wisdom.
While Mark’s gospel speaks of a “man” who “ran up” to Jesus, the gospel of Matthew describes him as “young” (19:20), and Luke speaks of him as a “ruler” (18:18). We can assume that the man was young, rich and influential. His act of running to Jesus shows his eagerness to meet Jesus and attain Life. Jesus puts him to the first test – asking whether he has observed the dictates of the Ten Commandments. The youth replies, “Teacher, I have kept all these (laws) from my earliest days.” The youth passes Jesus’ first test, 100%. However, he fails the second. When Jesus asks him to choose between Mammon and the Master, between Wealth and Wisdom, between the temporary and the eternal, He chooses money, forsakes the Master, forgoes Life. What would you choose?
Jesus’ saying: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” should not be understood literally. It could either indicate Jesus’ humour by using a hyperbole or could refer to a narrow city gate through which large animals couldn’t enter. Peter—the spokesperson, as always—asks about their reward for following him. Jesus promises Peter and co., as well as you and me, today, “houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands.” Don’t we have enough and more of these? But, one little detail I used to miss out earlier but which I am very aware of nowadays – Jesus adds, “with persecutions!” Am I ready for these ‘persecutions’?
Three Texts from Tradition:
Today, we have two new saints in the Church – St. (Pope) Paul VI and St (Archbishop) Oscar Romero who will be canonized at San Pietro, Rome.
St. Basil (330-379) was born into a wealthy family. As bishop of Caesarea he exhorted his clergy not to be tempted by wealth but to live frugally. He delivered several powerful sermons in which he pleaded with great eloquence the cause of his starving people. He held that the superfluous goods of the wealthy belonged not so much to themselves as to the starving. In his Homily to the Rich, he says: “Right-minded Christians ought to hold the view that wealth has been given, not to squander in pleasure, but to use in works of charity, and that even if their riches should give out, they should be glad of being rid of what belongs to others rather than grieve at losing what is their own.”
St (Pope) Paul VI: (In Populorum Progressio, n.47)
“The struggle against destitution, though urgent and necessary, is not enough. It is a question, rather, of building a world where every man and woman, no matter what one’s race, religion or nationality, can live a fully human life, freed from servitude imposed on them by others or by natural forces over which they have not sufficient control; a world where freedom is not an empty word and where the poor man Lazarus can sit down at the same table with the rich man.
This demands great generosity, much sacrifice and unceasing effort on the part of the rich. Let each one examine one’s conscience, a conscience that conveys a new message for our times. Is one prepared to support out of one’s own pocket works and undertakings organized in favour of the most destitute? Is one ready to pay higher taxes so that the public authorities can intensify their efforts in favour of development? Is one ready to pay a higher price for imported goods so that the producer may be more justly rewarded?”
St (Archbishop) Oscar Romero of El Salvador (In a Homily on June 19, 1977):
“We must learn this invitation of Christ: ‘Those who wish to come after me must renounce themselves. Let us renounce ourselves, renounce our comforts, renounce our personal opinions and follow only the mind of Christ, which can lead us to death but will surely lead us to resurrection.”
Possible Link of the 2nd Reading to the Theme: ‘Wisdom’ in the first reading is also identified with God’s ‘Word’: Jesus Christ. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks about God’s word being “alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” God’s Word is not only heard but also seen, felt, touched, tasted, and experienced in Jesus. Seeking for wisdom, ultimately, is seeking to build a personal relationship with God’s Wisdom-Word. Hence, if You/I/We have Jesus as our friend, wise and wealthy will We all be!
Three Current Concerns:
Money is the root cause of evil. Money in our church, too, can cause us to render lip-service to God while being busy with mere Mammon-administration of our churches, institutions and centres. Though we claim to be ‘spiritually poor’ do not our imposing institutions and costly church-buildings create a sense of unease and even scandal in society and church? 2. When Christ promised all disciples many mothers, brothers, sisters, children – with persecutions, wasn’t he aware that someday, somewhere, an archbishop like Romero would be killed for his sake, and a pope like Paul VI would call for an end to hoarding of private property and a new world order with justice and peace for all of creation? 3. We could try to read the lives of St. Paul VI and Romero for our own local contexts.
In Lighter Vein:
A rich businessman was waylaid by a robber at gunpoint who said, “Your money or your life!” Mad after money, he replied, “Take my life. I’m saving my money for my old age!” 2. A wealthy miser fell seriously sick and was supposedly dead. Being carried to the cemetery by friends and family, he regained consciousness, sized up the situation and said to himself: “I’d better stay put and pretend to be dead – or else I’ll have to bear the funeral expenses!” How often I foolishly save my money and lose my life! Let’s choose wisdom as our wealth!
Fr. Francis spent a week (March 22 to 29, 2014) in El Salvador during the anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He gave a two-part Interview to the Pauline sisters on St. Romero. These interviews below are insightful, incisive and has significant relevance from an India perspective and also has a direct bearing on Catholics in India. ICM strongly recommends viewing these two short interviews:
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.