LETTING GO AND BE HAPPY
The way of discipleship is letting go of self-determination to control things, situations, and persons in our lives to be happy and at peace. Today’s readings challenge us to let go of our sense of self-sufficiency, dependence, security, control, possession of power, wealth, and fame.
Hence, Prudence and wisdom are the gifts we should ask of God, not money, wealth, riches, fame, power and otherworldly gifts. It is through the wisdom of God or the word of God that we can be more than willing to give up everything in this life for the sake of the Lord Jesus. How can one apply the message of letting go and being happy in practical life?
THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY
This is a gospel message many would not like to hear in the age of commercial Christianity, the age of prosperity gospel, where financial or material blessing and physical well-being are always signs of good Christian living.
In addition, Christian faith is a positive or motivational speech and donations to religious causes will increase the material wealth of believers.
This is a serious challenge to the Christian life of our time when prosperity gospel, materialism and good are seen as signs of a ¨blessed life¨ in God. What are some specific examples of the challenges posed by the commercialisation of Christianity today?
OUR THEME
The Central Theme of this Sunday’s reading is that we need Wisdom to make God the biggest priority in our lives. God must always have a place of honour and worship, than us and our possessions, images, powers, authorities or affluence.
Therefore, today, the readings remind us that we do not possess anything that we refuse to surrender to the Lord. They challenge us to be detached from them to be attached only to God.
Unfortunately, these material things, powers or affluence often possess us. In addition, we become the prisoners of our possessions. When we give to money, material things or human power, the place of honour in our lives. God ceases to occupy the central position. This is the tragedy of modern man.
FIRST COMMANDMENT: GOD AS THE TOPMOST PRIORITY
Thus, we violate the First Great Commandment, “You shall not have other gods beside me”, which demands that we give absolute and unconditional priority to God.
As such, we must make this single and undivided commitment to God above everything else. We need, therefore, the Wisdom of God or the Word of God. This Word of God or the Wisdom of God is something alive and active that knows the secrecy of our motives, thoughts, words or actions.
When the Word of God or the Wisdom of God is our guide, the commitment to discipleship becomes easier despite, the challenges or difficulties we face. Thus, true discipleship is our greatest sacrifice to God, with the rewards of blessing and eternal life. How can individuals prioritise God, above everything else in their lives, as mentioned in the text?
THE FIRST READING: WISDOM 7:7-11
King Solomon, the author of the Book of Wisdom, did not only personify Wisdom as the Word of God. He also praises Wisdom as a priceless treasure. That is preferable to power and authority (sceptres and thrones).
The fact is that Solomon with all his wealth, came to the awareness that the Wisdom of God is more precious than gold and silver. (Gold is nothing but sand in her sight, and silver will be seen as clay before her).
Equally, for this Wise and flourishing King, the Wisdom of God is more than health and beauty. She always prefers light because her radiance never ceases (more than health and beauty).
King Solomon, who in all his wealth and riches knew that vanity of things and human life. He knows that Wisdom never ceases to exist, but everything else comes to a wretch end.
More so, all good things and uncounted wealth come through the hands of Wisdom. We need the Holy Spirit of God to ask for the gift of Wisdom. In the gifts of Understanding and Wisdom, we must pray to God to help us know the differences between life and things.
This is the only way; we can make God our priority. This is how; we can effectively answer the call to discipleship to renounce everything and ourselves. That is how we let go of control, possession and the sense of self-sufficiency which cripple our need for God.
PSALM 90
The responsorial to Psalm 90 invites us to pray that the Lord will fill us with his love and we will sing for joy. The joy of living comes with knowing that life is short and brief through Wisdom. As such, we live through our days in life and on earth fulfilling the will of God.
Gaining and living with Wisdom all through our days is being kind to others from or through our afflictions. When God’s love fills us, we gain Wisdom of heart as his servants. We come to acknowledge that only God can bless and give prosperity to the work of our hands.
According to the Psalmist, Wisdom comes from knowing that God’s love is in us. Despite the shortness of life’s span, and all the miseries we experience as mortals Wisdom helps us find God in everything. As we realise that He is the divine source of our blessings and prosperity.
THE SECOND READING: HEBREWS 4:12-13
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews makes a powerful statement about the Word of God. It is alive, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
This is the most descriptive nature, essence, use, and power of the Word of God. This is because the Word of God is as powerful as God Himself. The Word of God is not distinct from God Himself. God is faithful and truthful to His Word which fulfils his plan and purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
The Word of God is also the Wisdom of God. Hence, what is said of the Word of God applies to the Wisdom of God. The Wisdom of God is something living and active. And like any two-edged sword, it is sharper to cut open and reveal secrets, motives, and intentions of men. As well as the thoughts, words and actions of human beings.
THE POWER OF WORDS
The independence and power of the spoken Word of God would never be ineffective. It would always do that which it was designed to do. To understand this clearly, let us look at human history with the tremendous effect of the spoken words of men.
In history, a leader coins a phrase; that becomes a trumpet call that kindles men to crusades or crimes. The most famous of these phrases in modern human history is the “Yes We Can” of former US president Barak Obama. “Yes, We Can” was a revolutionary phrase that brought out both old and young to change the political history of America. It makes white and coloured, straight and gay, come together and vote for the first-ever black president in the history of the United States of America.
The power of words has both positive and negative consequences in human history. Some great men send forth a manifesto, and it produces action. That is, where their eloquence leads their followers to take positive or negative moves that could make or destroy nations. Just as the words of Obama create or make history. The philosophical words or speeches of Adolf Hitler maimed the history of the German and the Jewish nation with the horrible holocaust.
There is a general conception that history is the spoken word of some leader or thinker who has gone out and done great things: good or bad. This is the point if the verbal utterances of men could drive history so powerful like that. How much more could it be so of the Word of God?
THE POWER OF WORD OR WISDOM OF GOD
The fundamental fact about the Word of God is that it is living for all men of all times. Indeed, men, things, and histories fade or pass away. The Word of God is eternal. It is trans-space and time and trans-generational. In every age, men must face revolutionary changes or challenges.
They must face its restless probing into their conscience and being and accept or reject what it offers.
The Word of God is effective for the purpose it was intended when spoken. This is because it is the Word or Wisdom of an infallible God who is 100% truthful to his Spoken Word. It is one of the facts of history that wherever men take it seriously great things happen. Likewise, when they take it for granted terrible things also happen to them.
THE TRANSFORMING WORD OF GOD
Biblically access to the Word of God brought many and challenging changes to Christianity. Men are not only too serious about the Word of God as something to be studied, read or written about. It is an effective Word to practice in the Christian life.
St Paul, in his Second Letter to Timothy 3:16 clearly explains this to us when he asserted. All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, conviction, correction, and training in righteousness. In other words, for Paul by divine inspiration, the Holy Scripture is to convict us of sin, error, and restoration to obedience. Hence, we learn to live in conformity to the will of God, both publicly and privately—behaving honourably with personal integrity and moral courage.
THE CHALLENGING WORD OF GOD
The word of God is penetrating. It pierces until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow. In other words, the Word of God separates the physical from the spiritual. The soul is the life principle of the body, as the spirit is the living breath of the body. The combination of our soul and spirit makes us live and alive spiritually.
All living things possess “Alma and Psyche” in Greek, the “pneuma”. That is the spirit, which is characteristic of a man. It is the Spirit of God living in a man that he thinks, reasons and looks beyond the earth to God.
For the author of the Book of Hebrews, the Word of God tests our earthly life and demonstrates our spiritual existence. Furthermore, he affirms that the Word of God scrutinises man’s desires and intentions of heart.
Consequently, desire is the emotional part of man, while intention is the intellectual part of man. Therefore, our emotional and intellectual lives must be submitted to the scrutiny of God. It is only then, we will be free from errors and sins.
NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD
Finally, before God, his Word, or Wisdom nothing is hidden. We all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the One to whom we must render an account of our lives and discipleship.
What does the author of Hebrews mean by saying nothing is hidden from God? Or that all is naked before the eyes of God?
It means that no matter how we disguise or outwardly try to cover up our nature, we can never hide our true identities or selves from the scrutinising eyes of God.
Therefore, we may wear our outward trappings of priestly regalia, religious habits, Christian associations or pious societal uniforms. God knows us through and through. However, one thing is sure God knows who we are. In the presence of God, these things are stripped away, and we have to meet him as we are.
GOD SEES BEYOND OUR EXTERNALITIES
The second reading of today presents us with one fundamental truth. That is men may not see through us and judge us only by our outer conduct and appearances. God sees into our innermost being and knows the secrets of our hearts.
Where our actions, words and even thoughts are not concealed from him. As such, we can no longer hide from him, and his grip over us will bring us to the accountability of who we are.
This is the power of the Word of God with its two-edged sword nature, which strips and penetrates the most hidden being of us.
THE GOSPEL: MARK 10:17-30
The story of Jesus’ encounter with a certain rich, young ruler or man is one of the most remarkable stories of the Gospels (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-27). It is a perfect story of discipleship call to all Christians.
Our need to be detached from earthly things. The danger or difficulties with worldly possessions are obstacles against our spiritual life. And the blessings to those who let go all for the sake of Christ and his gospel demand.
Discipleship is out of conviction, not emotion. This is the demand of Christ for all his followers.
THE RICH YOUNG MAN AND US
The image of the rich young man invites and challenges us to come to Christ out of reasonable conviction. And not with some momentous emotions that are short-lived and superficial. The young man came running and prostrating before Christ a penniless prophet from Nazareth whom the religious authority of his time considered an outlaw with flattery words of praises.
However, Jesus saw his enthusiasm based on his great admiration of him. He was not moved, by his flattery. Possibly, he may have heard so many great things about Jesus. Now, at last, he got to meet him in person.
However, Jesus wanted the young man to come to him with sincerity of heart and conviction of will. He did not depict the spirit or enthusiasm of the young man. He wanted him to be self-conscious of his decision and not a life only based on overflowing emotions.
Hence, Jesus was straightforward with the young man right from the onset. He stopped his flattery out rightly. Do not call me good, for no one is good but God alone. It is as if Christ is saying, hey, stop and think. There is a cost in wanting to follow me, and that is not to be based on emotion alone but conscious thinking.
EMOTIONALISM AND CHRISTIANITY
Christianity is not emotionalism based on the euphoric feelings of an exciting moment. This is something every evangelist, preacher, teacher or pastor should watch out for and ought to imitate when bringing people closer to Christ.
The Christian joy and life of coming to God should not only be based on palpitating emotions. It calls for conscious reflection where decisions to follow Christ are based on fact or knowledge. That is a kind of informative decision that leads to wholehearted commitment.
The Christian religious practices based on purely emotional and euphoric noises or excitements with the thinnest layer or zero spirituality is a show. Sadly, Christian churches are full of emotionally active Christians with little or no rational spiritual commitment to Christ and his gospel messages.
Therefore, the Christian life is not based on sentimental feelings. That is short-lived and fades away quickly. It is a conscious decision that enables us to live a life of faith. The Christian life is based on Truth, Knowledge, and Wisdom.
NO ONE IS GOOD, BUT GOD ALONE
Jesus did not only stop the flattery word of the young man who called him a good teacher. He used that as a lesson to draw our attention to be focused on God alone. Thereby, articulating one of the greatest dangers to pastoral ministry: the pastor substituting God. Where the messenger focuses on himself rather than the message or the sender.
There are many implications of this phrase, for priests and pastors.
- First and foremost, their pastoral testimonies, preaching, or teaching must be oriented on God and convey truth through their lifestyles.
- The pastor and his flock or a religious teacher and his adherents must avoid the danger of personal attachment to each other. Where, the congregations or students see their pastors or teachers as gods, rather than depending on God.
- No preacher, teacher or pastor should point the people to himself but God. All true pastoral teaching of God has certain self-obliteration.
- They must keep their personalities and personal loyalty away from Christianity in the name of God. The true Christian faith should be Christocentric and God-oriented, and not on any priest, pastor or “man of God”.
WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?
Besides, the rich young man calls Jesus a “good” teacher. The question of the young man to Christ is the most fundamental question any Christian should ask God. Whether in the privacy of his heart or a public liturgical celebration of the Christian community.
The Christian faith and life is a search to find God. As our simple catechism says, God creates us: to know, love and serve him in this world, and in the life to come.
Our Christian goal should be, how can we know, love and serve God best in this life, to inherit eternal life with him. Of course, for us and any true Israelite, the answer is keeping the commandments of God.
As such, Jesus cited the knowledge or Wisdom of the commandments. You shall not murder, nor shall you not commit adultery. You shall not steal, bear false witness or defraud anyone. Always honour your father and mother.
Like every true Israelite, the young man has kept all these negative “DO NOT” commandments of God. However, he lacks the “DO” of loving God and his brothers and sisters.
MORAL RESPECTABILITY IS NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS
The essential Christian truth is that moral respectability for the commandment, which is the basis of a decent Christian life is insufficient. That negative keeping of the commandment, you shall not or “don’t”, is not all God or Christianity demands of us.
It could be true that you may never have done any harm to anyone. However, the Christian question is. What good have you done? The Christian life is not only about not doing bad things. It is also about doing good, for others and charitable things (the Last Judgment: Mt 25: 31-46).
This is where the rich young man and many of us failed to follow Christ truthfully. We may be religiously correct in keeping the commandments but spiritually wrong in loving God and others through concrete Christian actions.
Truthfully, it may be morally respectful never to take away from anyone. However, the challenge is that it is more, Christian to give, sacrifice, or share with others especially the poor and the needy.
THE CHALLENGE OF CHRIST TO THE RICH YOUNG MAN
Indeed, the commandments of “don’t” this rich and religious young man must have kept since his youth. However, Jesus notices something essentially lacking in him: charity towards others. Thus, he suggested to him: You lack one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven and afterwards, then come and follow me.
The challenge of Christ to the young man and perhaps all of us is that Christianity is not in what we don’t do, but what we must do. This is also the young man’s question to Christ: what must I do to inherit eternal life?
GOODNESS IS NOT DOING BAD THINGS
We should stop looking at goodness as consisting of not doing bad things. Afterwards, the last judgment in Matthew 25: 31-46 is not based on what we did but on what we failed to do.
Jesus quoted the commandments, which were the basis of a decent life to the young man. The discipleship call means our lives have meaning when we have to spend them doing good for others.
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN LIFE
Life in Christ and true happiness or fulfilment comes from self-donation or self-emptying for others. Our true happiness and fulfilment in life will never come from what we have or who we are.
This is the argument of St. Paul in 2 Cor. 8:9; “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich”.
Hence, the fundamental questions are: what is it that, you could give away for the sake of Christ? What positive good have you done to others? How much have you gone out of your way to help, comfort, and strengthen others?
Sadly, the rich young man could not do what Christ asked him. He had wealth, affluence, power and authority, he was not willing to let go. He may never have stolen or defrauded anyone. Neither had he made a conscious sacrifice to be generous to others in need.
THE LOOK OF CHRIST ON THE YOUNG MAN
The evangelist Mark presents us most with the humanity of Jesus Christ. Amid the disappointment and tragedy of materialism, Mark tells us that Jesus looked at the rich young man with empathy and love.
There were many things in that look of Jesus.
(a) There was the appeal of love. Jesus was not angry with him. He loved him too much for that; the look was never one of anger but the look of love.
(b) There was the challenge to chivalry. It was a look, which sought to pull the man out of his comfortable and respectable moral lifestyle. That is a desirable look, which encourages or invites him to a settled life into the adventure of being a Christian.
(c) It was the look of grief. Though Jesus was empathetic, something was grieving about the opportunity the young man was letting slip by him. Hence, the grief was the sorest grief of all. He looks sad as he sees a man who chooses not to be what he might have been and has it in him to be deliberate.
When a pastor, priest or Christian reduces the Christian life to material wealth, it is the tragedy of all. The Fleets of cars, fat bank accounts and luxurious living are not signs of a fruitful pastoral ministry. Christ would look at many of us with love and grief for misplacing the priority of the gospel. That is reaching out and burning out for others.
WEALTH IN THE RELIGIOUS MENTALITY OF THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
The radical demand for discipleship by Jesus was contrary to the Jewish religious mentality of wealth. In the ancient Middle East, it is a common belief that wealth is a sign of blessings and approval from God, while poverty or hardship is seen as a sign of curse and disapproval of God.
Therefore, the rich young man believed firmly, that his wealth was a sure sign of the blessing of God. Jesus, then admonishing him to go and sell all God has blessed him with and to share the money for the “wretched poor sinners” is unacceptable.
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL OUR TIME
The prosperity gospel of our age, as promoted by protestant and Pentecostal pastors, is not Christianity. Nor is neo-Pentecostal mentality accepted and adopted heavily by catholic clergies and tolerated by many catholic bishops Custodians of Catholicism today are in the same life of thinking with Christ’s vision for his church.
In other words, the prosperity gospel is a religious belief among many Christians of different denomination backgrounds. That financial blessing and physical well-being are always the Will of God for them. It also holds firm that faith is a positive or motivational speech. A spooky mentality that, donating to religious causes will increase the material wealth of believers.
Thus, to be a Christian implies material blessings and wealth that depend on your generosity to churches or pastors. After all, God is never a poor God. This delusional thinking is devoid of the truth of the gospel because Christ was indeed a poor man.
The prosperity gospel is not only an aberrant and false theology. It is a religious way of control, manipulation and extortion by so-called men of God. This is evident in the innocent, ignorant and poor masses in the name of God with bourgeois pastors or priests who live in affluence.
THE POSITION OF CHRIST ON WEALTH AND THE REACTION OF HIS DISCIPLES
The rich young man who had refused the challenge of Jesus had walked sorrowfully away. It was a sad scene and unbelievable that the eyes of Jesus and the apostles followed him until his figure receded into the distance.
However, as it is always in the character of Christ, he turns the sad moment into an opportunity to teach his followers something about wealth and undue attachment to it. Then Jesus said, “How hard it will be for those, who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
However, his followers were perplexed by his words. Jesus added Children, how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Thus, they concluded, “Then who can be saved?” This is a desperate declaration knowing the Jewish mentality to wealth and prosperity. Wealth was proof of the excellence of character and of favour with God. The Psalmist sums it up, “I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.” (Ps.37:25.)
For them, Jesus was turning accepted Jewish standards or popular Jewish morality totally upside down. The belief that prosperity was the sign of a good man. How can wealth or riches that are a sign of the blessing and approval of God become the greatest obstacle to entering into heaven?
THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE
The eye of a needle is a figurative expression in the ancient Middle East. It simply means shielding off every attachment to pass to safety.
In the ancient cities of the Middle East, small gates and openings were made on the city wall to let in the merchants or travellers, especially those who arrived at night by Camel to the cities. This is because cities in the Middle East were pruned to constant attack and invasion by enemies or rivalries.
Hence, once the main city gates are locked at nightfall, they are hard to open for anyone for fear of insecurity and foreign invasion. Therefore, a hole or gate was made on the sidewall of the main entrance. This is to let in late arrivals at night to the city.
This little hole or gate is called the eye of the needle. Traditionally the merchants or travellers come with their baggage and sometimes on their camels. Hence, to enter with their camels, they had to strip them of every load to pass freely through this gate.
When Jesus added that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. That was what, he was referring to, the difficulty of a camel passing through the tiny hole with baggage.
The implication is the demonstration of how difficult it will be for those with an attachment to material things to enter heaven. We must be detached from earthly possessions, to enter eternal life through the narrow gate (Mt 7:13-14).
THE DANGER OF MATERIAL THINGS AND POWER
It is fundamentally clear to bear in mind that Jesus did not condemn wealth and wealth acquisition. There is dignity in labour to have and even to have in excess. However, Jesus did condemn our undue attachment to material things and their usage.
Of course, there are many wealthy people in Heaven, just like, there are many poor too in hell. Being poor is not a ticket to heaven. At the time, no one saw the dangers of prosperity, material things and power more clearly than Jesus did.
WHAT ARE THESE DANGERS?
- Material possessions tend to fix, the heart of a man in this world.
- Likewise, being powerful can make the rich or ruler think of self-sufficiency or dependence on his ability rather than God.
- If the main interest of a man is in material possessions. He places his trust, thoughts and interests in material things of the world. Such a man reduces or thinks of everything in life as having a price tag, even salvation from God.
- For Jesus, the possession of material things has the effect of easily making a man arrogant, proud, self-satisfied, and worldly.
- In whatever circumstances, wealth and prosperity are supposed to make us responsible, generous and charitable towards others especially, the poor and needy.
- Material possessions could give us a deep sense of stewardship to them and not God. In the same way, power is supposed to make us humble a sense of service to others.
THE ASSURANCE OF JESUS TO THE SCARY DISCIPLES
The reaction of the disciples was something normal, natural and human. The image printed by Christ as regards riches makes discipleship and salvation almost impossible.
In a nutshell, then, Jesus stated the whole doctrine of salvation. For mortals, it is impossible. However, with God, anything is possible.
This implies that if salvation depended on the effort of a man, it would be impossible for anyone to attain. The good news is that salvation is the gift of God: grace, and all things are possible with God.
In other words, the man who trusts in himself and his possessions can never be saved. On the other hand, the man who trusts in the saving and redeeming power of the love of God can enter freely into salvation without hitches or obstacles.
THE COST AND REWARD OF DISCIPLESHIP
The impulsive Peter could not wait for the moment to pass by, without him presenting his inner worry and perhaps that of his colleagues with the teaching of Christ. He was sorrowful as he reminded Christ of their sacrifice to heed the call to discipleship. “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” What becomes of us and our sacrifices?
The tone of his statement was one of disappointment and discouragement if it is difficult for the rich to make heaven. If, amassing wealth is an obstacle to entering the Kingdom of Heaven. What becomes of us who renounce all to follow you?
It is an open-ended question, though scared of what Jesus’ answer might be. For Peter, it is better to ask than suffer in silence.
THE GREATEST ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST
Jesus assured Peter, “Truly I tell you”, this is one fundamental way Christ communicates a vital message to his disciples. He, then, went further to tell them with all truthfulness and honesty: if anyone left the house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields, for my sake and the sake of the good news. He or she will have a hundredfold blessing in this life and eternal life.
This is the most beautiful assurance of Jesus Christ to all his followers. There is, no man who ever gave up everything for the sake of Him: Christ and of his gospel news without getting it back a hundredfold.
First, he will receive a hundredfold now in this age: houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields. This means that a Christian has to renounce his present life to embrace the gospel message of Christ.
Although he had to leave his house, heritage and family due to persecution or rejection from his human family. By his sacrifice and his entry into the Christian Church. He enters a far bigger and larger family of God than whatever he had left.
A HUNDREDFOLD BLESSING
This is the meaning of the “hundredfold” reward Christ promised. It was a sort of consolation to many who became Christians. In the early stage of Christianity, most Christians were not only persecuted for their faith. They were forced to forfeit their properties, heritages and family.
Therefore, when their own families rejected them for becoming Christians, they graciously entered into the big and richly endowed family of Christ (Acts 4:32-35).
There would also be a hundredfold reward which is eternal life. For Christ, a man may sacrifice family ties or lose everything he values to become a Christian.
Such a man will not only become a member of the family of God. He also shares brotherhood with fellow Christian brothers and sisters. This is also the reward of eternal life in heaven.
However, in all truthfulness, Jesus reminded his followers that this would not be without persecution and hardship. Jesus prepared his disciples to be ready and accept all kinds of persecution.
He never promised them or us a hitch-free journey of witnessing to him and the gospel. Assuredly, he guarantees them safe reach and eternal reward in this life and life to come.
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP IS MAKING GOD A PRIORITY
Discipleship is making that fundamental or radical choice for God through the Word of God. Indeed, in life, we have many preferential options. God cannot be one of them. He has to be our priority above everything: wealth, power, authority and affluence.
A true disciple of Christ set God and his Kingdom above everything else. This is why the discipleship call of Christ includes renouncing everything alongside oneself.
The Wisdom of God helps us to reach this firm and fundamental decision. This implies how well we are grounded in the Wisdom of God. Interestingly, the Wisdom of God is not just the Word of God but God himself.
WISDOM OF GOD IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
Whenever the word “Wisdom” is used scripturally as a personification that refers to Christ, the Incarnated Word of God. It also personified God, the Divine Source of all created things by whom we exist and have our being.
The call to discipleship of Christ is a radical change of mentality to the Word of God. That always demands the best of us or challenges us to make a fundamental decision for God.
The discipleship of Christ is not one of flattery, sweet talk, or prosperity. It entails hardships, sacrifices, and suffering. The bitter truth of the gospel is the renunciation of all and oneself.
THE CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY OF CHRIST FOR HIS DISCIPLES
However, there is one thing that is certain about the character and personality of Christ. He was always truthful, honest and straightforward with his disciples or followers about what it takes to follow or be his witnesses.
He never promises an easy-going life, a hitch-free life or a prosperous lifestyle. There is always a cross, persecution, pain or suffering. However, this hard road and narrow way lead to glory and eternal life.
Hence, the discipleship of Christ is hard, but there is a big reward to it a divine reward of a hundredfold in this present life and eternal life. There is eternal glory as the highest price of being a disciple of Christ.
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
- Do we seek the Wisdom of God to guide and help us set God above everything in our lives?
- What is your relationship with the Word of God?
- Do you allow the Word of God to speak to you and orient your life with its living, active and penetrative power? Or
- Do you wilfully distract yourself from reading or listening to the Word of God?
- Can you give up everything for Christ’s sake and his gospel?
- What is your approach to money, material things or power?
- Are they obstructing your chance of true happiness and eternal life?
THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL POINTS OF TODAY’S REFLECTION
The tone of the gospel is very harsh; Jesus did not miss his word when it comes to the attachment to and security in wealth.
a. Materialism is a belief that without wealth life is meaningless.
b. There is a commercialisation or materialisation of God in Christianity today through the prosperity gospel.
c. The young man in the gospel was a materialist at the heart, even though he kept God’s commandments.
d. Hence, the call to be discipleship of Christ is indeed a profound decision.
e. It is not enough to seek spiritual fulfilment rules and regulations in the Christian faith.
f. Following Christ is a call to give up something precious and dear to us: self, attachment to material things or persons, and a habit of sin, time, or excuses to commit.
g. The story of the gospel is our story as well, rich or poor alike, we too need to assess what it is we need to ‘’sell’’ to be more faithful to Christ.
WITH GOD’S ABSOLUTE NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” With this phrase, Jesus demonstrated to his disciples and followers that with wisdom from above one can do the will of God and be able to sacrifice all for the sake of Christ and his gospel, if he or she will learn detachment from worldly things.
Fundamentally, it is worth noting that Jesus did not condemn wealth and wealth acquisition. There is dignity in labour to have and even to have in excess.
However, Jesus condemned attachment to material things and their usage. Of course, there are many rich people in Heaven just like there are many poor in hell. Being poor is not a ticket to heaven.
THE CHALLENGE TODAY
Today’s challenge is what can we give up for the sake of Christ and his gospel in our lives? Do you know that Christianity is not the avoidance of doing bad things? Does Christianity mean doing the good and practising charity that is sacrificing all?
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, without the wisdom and prudence from above through the inspiration of the word of God that penetrates all our motives we cannot serve and follow you as true disciples. Help us seek the Kingdom of God and its wisdom to give up totally and wholly whatever or whoever is a hindrance to our Christian journey. Amen
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