Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
28th Sunday of
the Year, B – October 14, 2018.
Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11;
Ps 89:12-17; Hebrews
4:12-13;
Gospel – Mark 10:17-30.
Theme: Vanity of Fame &
Fortune & the Call to Redistribute Wealth!
Introduction
Friends in Christ, our
liturgy today challenges us on the need to check our fixation to material
possessions and make concerted efforts at redistributing the earth’s resources
for the good of all. Titled “Vanity
of Fame & Fortune & the Call to Redistribute Wealth” our reflection shall
consider the background and summary of the readings, killers of
the kingdom, dangers of
riches, pastoral
application and practical lessons, homiletic points to remember and conclusion.
Background
& Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Wisdom 7:7-11) was written hundreds of years after
the death of Solomon presumably after the Babylonian exile. It was meant to
demonstrate the superiority of Jewish wisdom over pagan wisdom. However, it is
important to note that the author was addressing both Jews and Gentiles since
he could speak to both the Jewish community and the world. The wisdom
literature was written in the name and spirit of one Israel’s wisest men. Wisdom
is personified as God who cannot be equated with riches, gold, silver, health,
beauty or light. The author compares possessing wisdom with a healthy
relationship with God. In summary, the reading charges us to pursue wisdom
through prayer as King Solomon exemplified in verse 7.
In the second reading,
the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 4:12-13) insists that since
nothing is hidden from God, it is to him that we will give an account of our lives.
The reading presupposes that our secret emotions and thoughts, interior
disposition and basic orientation towards all that we have and are,
particularly fame and fortune, is crucial in our relationship with God.
In the gospel reading (Gospel – Mark 10:17-30) Jesus is
explicit about the implication of putting out trust in fame and fortune. He
speaks “plainly about the
real obstacle that wealth presents.” The reading recounts
the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to ask what he must do to inherit
eternal life. Life tells him to observe all the commandments - “You must not
kill; you must not commit adultery; you must not steal; you must not bring
false witness; you must not defraud; honour your father and mother.”
The excited rich young ruler
tells Jesus that he has kept all these from his earliest days. Jesus looks at
him lovingly and says: “There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you
own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then
come, follow me.” We are told that his face fell at these words and he went
away sad because he was a man of great wealth.
After that, Jesus said,
it is easier for a Carmel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich
man to enter into heaven. At that, the disciples said, who then can be saved?
Jesus replied that what seems impossible with men is always possible with God.
Peter then asked about those of them who were his followers. Jesus maintained
that all those who left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land and
face persecution for his sake and for the sake of the gospel will receive a
hundred times, all these things, in this life and the next.
Killers
of the Kingdom
1. Fame: That the rich
young man was a ruler reveals the danger of cult personality, status symbol,
VIP and celebrity status. These attributes of fame are sure killers of the
values of the kingdom since they are merely for the earthly city.
2. Fortune: The gospel reveals that the young ruler was
exceedingly rich, this accounts for why he went away sad when Jesus told him to
go and sell all he owns, give the money to the money and come follow him. As a
killer of the kingdom values, fortune has a way of catching our attending and
turning a blind eye to the needs of others. Little wonder Jesus challenged his
apostles to willingly let go of “house or land” for the
sake of the kingdom. The stories of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) is
a case in point.
3. Family: The assurance of a hundred fold blessings of those who
renounce “…brothers, sisters, father, children and face
persecution for the sake of Christ and the gospel” testifies to family ties as
a killer of the kingdom. As a remedy, the bible bears testimony to the fact
that a family could be divided on account of the gospel (Luke 12:53).
Dangers of Riches
1. Attachment: Riches have an aggressive spirit which tends to make the rich obsessed with his or
her wealth. There is a strong indication that wealthy people have sentimental
attachment to their property. Often times, they love “things” and “Use” people.
Little wonder the scripture says, where a man’s treasure is, there is his heart
also” (Matthew 6:21).
2. Greed: The avarice and greed of
Gehazi (2 Kings 5:15-27) and Ananias and Sapphira (Cf. Acts 5:1-11) attests to the fact
that being greedy and selfish is one short fall of the rich. The gospel
addresses the wealthy man’s natural
attitude which is greed and the tendency to covet other people’s goods. We are
not surprised that the rich young man went away sad when Jesus ordered him to
go and sell all he owns and come follow him (Mark 10:22).
3. Pride: The rich have the tendency to be proud and pompous.
What Jesus seems to address in the gospel is pride. Pride creates the dangerous
tendency of not wanting to share resources with the poor because the rich feel that
their wealth is as a result of their sweat. This poses a serious danger to
riches.
Pastoral
Application & Practical Lessons
1. Like
King Solomon, our liturgy charges us to seek wisdom above silver
and gold because it personifies God who alone is to be worshiped and gloried.
2.
Church leaders are charged to teach the flock how to pursue
wisdom through discernment and prayer.
3. Since the second reading reminds us that nothing
is hidden from God to whom we shall give account of our lives, the rich are
tasked to access their lives in the light of fame and fortune.
4. Charity organisations and Pious Societies like
the Vincent De Paul Society are encouraged to examine their interior
disposition and basic orientation towards charity so that it does not become a
showbiz activity or one which seeks fame.
