Tad Brain Power

 TWENTY EIGHTH ORDINARY SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B!

A rich businessman was attacked by a robber at gunpoint who said, “Your money or your life!” Mad after money, the victim replied, “Take my life. I am saving my money for my old age!” Crazy as this sounds. The rich youth in today’s gospel is not different from this victim. The youth comes to Jesus with a request, “What must l do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus bids him choose between Mammon and the Master, between money and Life. He chooses money, forsakes the Master, and forgoes Life. What would you choose?

Today’s gospel is not about money. It’s about making choices. Yes, the man who comes up to Jesus has money. He has many possessions. But they are not his tragedy. His tragedy is thinking that he can choose everything. This man is already a good person. He follows all the commandments of Torah. He has resources by which he can accomplish many good things. But, what he wanted to do was simply add something more to the good things he already had: being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus says to him, “You can be my disciple. You can inherit eternal life. But first you have to let go of something you already have, your riches, give it yo yhe poor.” The man could not do this so he walks away sad. His failure is a reminder to us that we cannot have it all. In order to say yes to some things, we have to say no to others. Unless we are willing to pass on some very good things, we will not be able to attain the best things.

As compared to this rich, sad youth, there

is a rich, glad youth revered by people of all faiths, worldwide. Born in Assisi and baptized ‘Giovanni’, his wealthy father, a cloth merchant, added the name ‘Francesco’ and wanted him to inherit the family business. But, young Francesco took Jesus’ words seriously. Not only did he hand over his inheritance and fine attire to the poor, but he also embraced ‘Poverty’ lifelong to give himself fully to God. Was Francis of Assisi poor? Rich? One thing is sure: he was never sad.

What is the difference between the gospel’s rich youth and, say, Francis of Assisi? Both were young, rich, enthusiastic and energetic. Both had deep desires for discipleship. But, one grabs money, loses Life; the other gives up money, saves Life.

Detachment is written into the first story of our religious history. Abraham, 99 and Sarah, 89, are so surprised to have a child at that age that they call him Isaac, which means laughter. But soon, Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. However, God does not demand that Abraham sacrifice his son; all he asks is that he is willing to do so.

There is no sorrow where there is no treasure to lose. If we are detached from our possessions, our good name, our prestige, there is no one who can hurt us.

Why do riches take us away from following Christ? Riches have a tremendous hold over the human heart. They can take the place of God. Worse still, riches might make us, believe that we are gods to be wooed and worshipped.

Remember, wealth makes people spiritually blind. Depending for their needs entirely on themselves, they do not see any need for God especially as Provider. How right was one author who wrote, "The more one possesses, the more he is possessed!" Thus in making wealth and its pursuit their god, they imperil their own salvation by neglecting to amass "treasures in heaven" for themselves.

Jesus called the rich young man to give up his wealth.Today God's word challenges us to travel light and accept the treasures of heaven. Like the rich young man we can go away sad because too much of world is in our heart or we can empty ourselves so that God can fill us with the richness of his peace and love. We must look at our lives and discern what is really important. And then we must pray, “Lord, you have shown us what to do. Give us the strength to let go of whatever holds us back from choosing it. Show us how to say yes by learning to say no.”

All reactions:

1Rashmi Tigga