While I wouldn’t consider myself “rich” by any means, I am blessed to live a comfortable life. I live in a comfortable home, with my brother and sister, in a pleasant town with friendly neighbors. I can afford to buy the types of food I like to eat, to take occasional road trips to nearby places, like Africa, and when I want to buy some new clothing, I have the funds to do so. Don’t get me wrong, I do have my challenges, but generally, God has been good to me.
That being said, today’s gospel reading (Matthew 19:16-22) presents me with a problem. I have always considered this passage one of those faith-testing moments where I must look at my life and determine where my priorities really are. Like the rich young man in today’s reading, Jesus approves of what I am doing, but He is challenging me to think in terms greater things, of showing even greater generosity than I originally thought I could provide. He is asking me to give up what I think is important and sacrifice it all for Him. That is not easy to do if you do not know Him.
A friend of mine tells this story. She was helping sponsor a Cambodian refugee family back in the 1980’s. She was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for more than a year to respond to the unending survival needs of six people. Far from feeling saintly, she began to resent the ceaseless demands. A day into the process, she knew she would never be Mother Teresa. Six or eight months into it, she wondered if she could still claim to be a Christian.
At just that point, one of Cambodians proposed that she give him her car because her family had two, he had none, and a woman did not really need a car. (He still had a few lessons to learn about American culture!) She said that the rich young man who fled from Jesus had nothing on her reaction to being asked to surrender her car. She abandoned all pretense of saintliness, told him no way, and taught him how to catch a bus!
Rejoice all ye of modest nobility! We can still make it into heaven even if we never become martyrs or spend a year working with the Order of St. John Paul II in Africa. Today’s gospel tells us that there’s hope for those of us who plod through our ordinary lives trying to obey the commandments and lead generally good lives.
I am in awe of people who do heroic things like working in refugee camps in Gaza, or the homeless camps right here in Elk Grove, California. I also am in awe of ordinary people, like you and me, who care for a sick parent, spouse or sibling, or those suffering from Alzheimer’s. I see them manage to be noble day after unending day and likely don’t realize that they have left their fortunes behind to follow Jesus and help others in this life.
Jesus invites us daily to know Him more. When we spend time with Him reading the word, in quiet reflection, or in daily prayer, we are deepening our relationship with the Creator. We are allowing Him into our lives and letting him fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts that only he can seal. And when we know Him, giving up iPhones, video games, money, comforts, etc. won’t feel like a burden. We will find a willing heart, eager to follow God all the days of our lives.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!