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Reading 1: Wisdom 7:7-11
Responsorial: Psalm 90:12-17
Reading 2: Hebrews 4:12-13
Gospel: Mark 10:17-30
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101021.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we’re going to break open the Word!
So, in today’s Gospel, is Jesus picking on rich people? Let’s try to sort that out.
In today’s Gospel, a rich young man ran up to Jesus and asked how he can inherit internal life (Mark 10:17).
Let’s pause for just a second. This person asks Jesus about his spiritual life. Clearly, this person is concerned about their own spiritual wellbeing and that’s a very good thing! Jesus was clearly moved by this brief encounter because Scripture tells us that Jesus loved him (Mark 10:21). But shockingly, the young man walked away from Jesus.
What’s going on here?
Well first, see that Scripture says Jesus loved him. So, no, Jesus doesn’t hate rich people. But the young man walks away because he had many possessions (Mark 10:22). Then Jesus tells his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24)
Now, Jesus says this to a people who believed that material wealth was a visible sign of God’s blessings. The people are stunned by what Jesus said. So, Jesus tries to make a point by saying it a different way. “It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)
It sure sounds like Jesus is picking on rich people. Before we can go there, let’s step back and see if the other readings offer an insight.
Our first reading comes from Wisdom. Tradition tells us that King Solomon is the author of Wisdom. So, Solomon writes that he prayed for the spirit of wisdom to come upon him (Wisdom 7:7). He even says that he prefers wisdom to his scepter and throne (Wisdom 7:8).
Now, let’s put this into perspective. Scripture says that Solomon was the wealthiest and most powerful of all of Israel’s kings. There is no one around with more money or more stuff than Solomon. And Solomon says he’d happily trade all of it for the gift of wisdom. Wow!
What does that tell us about Solomon? He was wealthy beyond all compare, and he certainly took care of his wealth. Just like in our world today, there are people who are quite skilled with money – with the ability to generate wealth, to take care of that wealth, to grow that wealth. Those people like Solomon are not bad people.
How does Solomon treat his wealth? In the language of the spiritual life, he treats his wealth with a holy indifference. He is detached from his wealth. Detachment doesn’t mean irresponsible. It just means that Solomon was not distracted by his wealth. He knew what was important and he desired the fruits of the spiritual life.
Now, in the Gospel, a young rich person comes to Jesus. Clearly, that person is interested in spiritual growth. The person by his testimony keeps the commandments. And Jesus loved him for it! But the young man felt something was missing. He wanted to take his spiritual life to the next level.
Solomon represents the next level. So, Jesus asks the young man to sell everything, give it all to the poor and then follow him. The young man goes away sad because, unlike Solomon, he is not detached from his wealth. He loves what he has. He probably worked hard to get where he is. And so, he can’t see parting with any of it.
No, Jesus is not picking on rich people. If anything, Jesus is calling out those who are more attached to their possessions than they are to the God who saves. That’s why Jesus says, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24) It’s not the wealth that’s the issue. It’s the attachment.
Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following question.
If Jesus were to ask me to sell everything and follow him, how would I react?
I think doing our homework will help us be the intentional disciples we are called to be! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word! Peace!
Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.
References:
1. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ, unique Word of Scripture: 101-4
2. Power of God’s word: 124, 131
3. Scripture in life of the Church: 131-3
4. Rendering an account to God: 678-79, 1039, 1059
5. The evangelical counsels: 915-18
6. Eternal life: 1020-29
7. All things possible for God: 1058
8. Poverty of heart: 1723, 2536, 2444-7
9. Jesus and the commandments: 2052-55
10. Giving to the poor: 2443-49
11. Detachment from riches: 2544-47, 2728
12. Scripture as a fountain of prayer: 2653-4
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101021.cfm
Lectionary: 143
Reading 1
Wisdom 7:7-11
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
Responsorial
Psalm 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Reading 2
Hebrews 4:12-13
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Alleluia
Matthew 5:3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: 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.”
He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”
Peter began to say to him,
“We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”
OR:
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: 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.”
He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”