28th Sunday in Ordinary Time B. October 13,
2024
Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30
Theme:
Two Steps to Accomplish to Go To Heaven
We
know that nobody lives eternally in this world. Everybody dies. We also believe
that there is another life after death: either eternal life in God’s kingdom or
eternal condemnation in hell. The Scripture readings today deal with eternal
life in the heavenly kingdom. They tell us what we must do to go to heaven. In
the Gospel, Jesus suggests two steps to go to heaven: First, we must follow God’s
commandments, and second, we must give up any possessions and follow him. The
first reading advises us to pray to God continuously for Wisdom; when we get
it, we should prefer it above all other things. This Wisdom stands for our intimate
relationship with God. Therefore, we should live in transparency in front of
God because, as the second reading reminds us, no creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of God to whom we must render
an account.
Today’s
Gospel is followed by the stories of Jesus predicting his Passion for the third
time and the ambition of James and John (10:32-45). Before our Gospel story,
Jesus delivered three significant teachings. First, he strongly warned the
people about the temptation to sin and called them to radical repentance lest
they go into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna (hell) (see Mark 9:42-50). Second,
he challenged married people to live the unity and love of the first creation
for the entirety of their lives. Quoting the book of Genesis (Gn. 2:18-24), he
demonstrated that God did not envisage divorce when he created the first man
and woman. The person who divorces his spouse and marries another commits
adultery (see Mark 10:1-12). Third, Jesus taught that the people will not enter
the kingdom of heaven unless they accept it like the children (Mark 10:13-16). All
these teachings of Jesus set up the context for our Gospel story. After hearing
all of Jesus’ warnings and statements about eternal life in God’s kingdom and
eternal condemnation in Gehenna, the rich man of our Gospel is interested to
know what he needs to do specifically to avoid the unquenchable fire of hell
and gain eternal life.
Our
Gospel text is a narrative story with images. It can be structured into three
parts. The first part is the dialogue between the rich man and Jesus regarding
the rich man’s question about what he must do to inherit eternal life
(vv.17-22). The second part recounts the dialogue between Jesus and the
disciples regarding how difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of
God (vv.23-27). The third part discusses the disciples’ concern that Peter
raises about what will happen to them, who left everything and followed Jesus
(vv.28-31).
The
first part of our Gospel (vv. 17-22) is a dialogue between Jesus and the rich
man. Mark first describes three significant actions the rich man did before he
asked his question to Jesus. He runs up, kneels before Jesus, and calls him
“Good teacher.” Running expresses how serious his quest for eternal life is. Kneeling
before Jesus signifies his prayer of adoration. And by calling Jesus “Good,”
this rich man confesses that Jesus is God because the word “Good” was reserved only
for God. Jesus himself reveals it when he says, “Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone.” Jesus does not deny his divine
identity here, but in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus prefers to keep it secret (Messianic
secret.) Through this introductory part, our Holy Mother Church teaches us that
we should consider the quest for our eternal salvation seriously. She
encourages us to always run to Jesus in prayer (especially the Mass), adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, confession, and other sacraments to discuss and
prepare our eternal salvation.
The
rich man asks Jesus what he must do to avoid the unquenchable fire of hell and inherit
eternal salvation in God’s kingdom. In his answer, Jesus suggests two steps to
undertake. The first step is the observance of the commandments that refer to human
relationships: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall
not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your
father and your mother.” (Vv.19-20). The second step concerns the relationship
with God, which consists of becoming Jesus’ disciple: “Go, sell what you have,
and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow
me.” (V.21). The rich man has no problem with the first step. From his
youth, he has observed all of God’s commandments that refer to his duties to
other people. Jesus loves him for being good with the first step. However, the
rich man fails in the second step: his relationship with God. He cannot become Jesus’
follower because he is not ready to love Jesus above his possessions. Mark
tells us that the face of this rich man fell as he walked away sad because he had
many possessions.
This
first part of the Gospel teaches us that we must undertake these two steps to
inherit eternal life at the end of time. First, we must care for our relationships
with our brothers and sisters by observing God’s commandments. We cannot
pretend we love God if we are not in a good relationship with our fellow
humans. First step first. Let us make an effort to observe God’s commandments daily
and help our children observe these commandments from their youth age. When we
do so, Jesus will love us the way he loved this rich man. Second, having good
relationships with our fellow humans alone is not enough. It must be associated
with our relationship with God, which requires us to become Jesus’ disciples. One
condition for discipleship, as Jesus reminds us, is that we must sell what we
have and give to the poor, and we will have treasure in heaven; then we come
and follow him (see v. 21). Jesus does not ask us here to dispossess everything
we have in order to follow him. Money is necessary to take care of our families
and Church. Instead, Jesus wants us to exchange our transitory wealth for
lasting treasure in heaven. He wants us to love him above all that we possess. Money,
jobs, power, and all material goods we have cannot obstruct our discipleship. We
need to pray to God constantly so that our love for Jesus and his Church must
be our priority. This is what the author of the Book of Wisdom teaches us in
today’s first reading. He tells us that he prayed to God and pleaded for the wisdom.
Wisdom here stands for his relationship with God. He says he preferred wisdom
to a scepter, throne, and riches. Gold and silver are sand and are to be
accounted mire. He loves wisdom (his relationship with God) beyond health and
beauty. He chose to have a relationship with God because its radiance never
ceases. He affirms that wisdom did not come to him alone. It came with all good
things and riches. We are called to prioritize our relationship with God and
love it above all our possessions.
The
second part of our Gospel (vv. 23-27) recounts the dialogue between Jesus and
his disciples about how it is difficult for those who behave like this rich man
to enter the kingdom of heaven. Like the rich man, the disciples also are sad
about loving Jesus above all possessions as a condition of discipleship. They
are amazed and exceedingly astonished to hear Jesus being against wealth. This
is contrary to what they always believed. The Jews considered wealth to be a
sign of God’s blessing. Moreover, since the observance of the Laws of Moses was
mandatory and was considered the path to eternal salvation, and since most of
these Mosaic laws were very expensive, and only the wealthy had the resources and
leisure to fulfill them, the Jews believed that having possessions was a blessing
because it allowed the people to follow the laws and, consequently, go to
heaven. Yet, here, Jesus says that it is an obstacle to inherit the kingdom of
heaven. This justifies the question the disciples ask among themselves, “Then
who can be saved?” (V.26).
This
second part of the Gospel teaches us again that Jesus is not against the rich
people, nor does he say that having possessions is a sin. Instead, he warns his
disciples and us about the danger possessions can cause. They can damage our
relationship with God and prevent us from following Jesus when we do not use
them properly. Many Christians today support the Church with their treasures
but do not attend Masses regularly, and they are not yet Jesus’ disciples. Supporting
the Church with what we possess is good, but it does not make any difference if
we are not Jesus’ disciples. Possessions must support our discipleship and nurture
our relationship with God.
The
third part of our Gospel story (vv. 28-30) deals with the disciples’ concern
that Peter raises. If the Jews considered wealth to be God’s blessing and the
path to eternal salvation, and yet Jesus says that it is hard for those who
have wealth to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples want now to know about
them, who left everything and followed Jesus. What does Jesus have to say about
their destiny? Their reflection is quite logical. In his answer, Jesus
reassures them and us that they and all people today who have given up
everything for his sake and the sake of the Gospel will not only receive
eternal life in the age to come but will receive a hundred times more now in
this present age. Here, Jesus wants to say that discipleship is already the
manifestation of the heavenly kingdom on earth. When we, Christians, love Jesus
above all our possessions and follow him, we already enjoy part of the eternal
salvation in this present age and will enjoy it fully in the age to come.
Our
second reading tells us that the Word of God is living and effective, sharper
than any two-edged sword. It can discern the reflections and thoughts of the
heart. May this Eucharistic celebration enable us to accept and practice the
Word of God we heard today. Amen.
Rev.
Leon Ngandu, SVD
SVD
USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator &
Retreat
Center Director
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