Homily- Sunday 13 October 2024 – XXVIII Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)- Rev. Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB

 

Sunday 13 October 2024 – XXVIII Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Mass Readings: Wis 7: 7-11   Ps 90   Heb 4:12-13   Mk 10: 17-30.

Key Verse to Meditate: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mk 10:17).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

On this Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are presented with the poignant encounter between Jesus and the rich young man, who asks the profound question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This Gospel passage invites us to reflect on the theme of eternal life and the radical call to embrace poverty of spirit for the sake of the Kingdom of God. This narrative appears in all three Synoptic Gospels-Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Mt  19: 16-30; Lk 18:18-30). They each tell us that the young man was rich and deeply concerned with his eternal destiny. Matthew emphasizes his youth, while Luke adds that he was a ruler, signifying his status and influence.

The First Reading: The Wisdom to Discern

In today’s Gospel, the rich young man lacked the wisdom to discern the true nature of Jesus’ call. Jesus called him to walk a different path-one that required detachment from wealth and a commitment to follow Him fully. This wisdom, which the young man did not possess, is the same wisdom for which the author of the Book of Wisdom prays: "Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given to me; I called on God, and the Spirit of wisdom came to me" (Wis 7:7). Wisdom, as presented here, is the gift that enables us to see things in their proper light, allowing us to judge people, events, and possessions through the lens of God's truth. This invitation to receive divine wisdom is also extended to us in the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, where St. Paul warns us to guard against an "evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God" (Heb 3:12). Wisdom helps us remain faithful to God’s call.

The second Reading: God's Word: Living and Active

The second reading paints a powerful picture of God’s word: "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). As a living force, God's word not only reveals but also accomplishes what it says (Is 55:11). It penetrates our hearts, transforms us, and brings about the fulfilment of God's will in our lives. It is a word that judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, leaving nothing hidden from God's all-seeing gaze. The Scriptures tell us that exposure to God's word is exposure to God Himself-His truth, His mercy, and His call to conversion.

God’s word has always been alive, whether spoken through the prophets or embodied in Christ Himself. It challenges and revives us, exposing areas where we fall short and inviting us to grow deeper in our relationship with God. For those who remain indifferent, however, this same word can act as a judgment. We see this in the Old Testament, where the Israelites fell before the Amalekites and Canaanites for disregarding God's commands (Num 14:43-45). Similarly, in Hebrews 4:13, the author tells us that nothing is hidden from God's sight, and His word has the power to reveal the innermost intentions of our hearts, rendering us defenseless before His scrutinizing gaze.

The Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel presents the well-known encounter between Jesus and the rich young man. Having likely heard of Jesus, the young man asks Him a profound question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17; cf. Lk 10:25-28). He approaches the right person with the right question. His addressing Jesus as 'Good Teacher' and inquiring about eternal life parallels a passage in Luke, where a lawyer simply calls Jesus 'Teacher' and poses a similar question, leading to the parable of the Good Samaritan: "And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'" (Lk 10:25).

The term 'eternal life,' though frequently used in the Gospel of John, appears only in a few places in the Synoptic Gospels-here in Mark (10:30), and also in Matthew 19:29 and Luke 10:25; 18:18, 30.

In Luke's account, Jesus responds to the lawyer by asking him about his knowledge of the Law: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (Lk 10:26). Similarly, in Mark, after the young man’s question, Jesus points him to the commandments (Mk 10:19). Yet, Jesus does not accept the man’s praise without correction. He challenges him, saying, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mk 10:18; cf. Mt 19:16-17). As a Jew, the young man would have been familiar with the Scriptures that affirm God as the ultimate source of goodness (1 Chr 16:34; 2 Chr 5:13; Ezra 3:11; Ps 118:1; 145:9).

Jesus’ question may seem strange at first, but He is not denying His own goodness or divinity. Instead, He is directing the young man’s focus to the truth that God alone is the supreme source of all goodness. Jesus’ mission was always to exalt and glorify God.

However, Jesus has a deeper point to make: the young man must move from seeing Jesus as merely a 'Teacher' (didaskalos) to recognizing Him as 'Lord' (kurios, Lk 5:8)-the one who alone can give eternal life. Yes, God is good, and it is through God alone that one attains eternal life. And the person who gives this life is none other than Christ Himself. This is evident even from the young man’s unusual act of kneeling before Jesus, a gesture of reverence typically offered to one’s Lord (Lk 5:8), which he does even before asking his question.

This encounter occurred on a significant occasion, as Jesus was on His journey to Jerusalem (Mk 10:32), making it a critical moment for the young man to realize the depth of the invitation being offered.

The Rich Young Man

Many stories in the Bible depict people meeting God on the road, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). This young man appeared to be on the right path. He had everything—he was rich, and, in addition, he obeyed the divine commandments. Yet, he approached Jesus because he sought eternal life, which he perceived as a form of long-term security, like the wealth he already possessed. Jesus had already taught that to save one’s life, one must be willing to lose it. To follow Him, one must deny oneself and take up one’s cross (Mk 8:34-35). The young man was sincere in his search for eternal life.

A Story

Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark can be compared to the central message in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where a man embarks on a journey to find eternal life amidst many challenges. In the movie, Indiana’s father searches for eternal life, pursuing the Holy Grail. But during his search, he becomes lost. Indiana goes to find him, overcoming obstacles like Nazis and snakes until he finally reaches the Grail, hidden among false ones. Only by drinking from the true Grail can he attain eternal life, while a false grail leads to instant death. Indiana must choose wisely. Similarly, today's world is full of deadly false hopes.

The Commandments of God

The commandments of God are the first step toward eternal life. So, Jesus directed the young man's attention to the second tablet of the commandments (cf. Ex 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20). Jesus tested the basic understanding of this young Jewish man by reminding him to follow the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother” (Mk 10:19). Jesus was impressed by the young man’s faithfulness to the commandments. The evangelist tells us clearly that Jesus loved him for his dedication (Mk10:21).

You Lack One thing

Though Jesus valued the young man’s sincere disposition, He recognized that the man lacked one essential thing-detachment from his wealth. This wasn’t inherently wrong, as the man had been raised in an environment of wealth and luxury. However, Jesus challenged him: 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me' (Mk 10:21). In Matthew’s account, Jesus further challenges him by saying, 'If you wish to be perfect' (Mt 19:21), calling him to a perfection like that of the heavenly Father (Mt 5:48). Jesus was inviting the young man to a higher obedience, beyond the written commandments.

This moment recalls when, at the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Jesus told Martha that only one thing was needed, and Mary had chosen it-the better part-which would not be taken away from her (Lk 10:42). Sadly, the young man walked away disheartened by Jesus’ response, as it was too difficult for him to give up his wealth and follow Him. For Jesus, riches often become a hindrance to those seeking true communion with God (Mt 19:23-26). Jesus makes it clear here that mere adherence to the Law is not enough to attain eternal life; one must radically detach from material wealth and be willing to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Attaining Eternal Life and Attachment to Wealth

The young man had come to Jesus seeking eternal life, but when Jesus laid out the conditions, he walked away, bound by his attachment to wealth. When he left, Jesus turned to His disciples and spoke about the difficulty of attaining eternal life for those attached to wealth (Mk 10:23-27). Jesus said, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” and reiterated, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:23, 25). The disciples were astonished at Jesus' words and asked, “Then who can be saved?” (Mk 10:24, 26). Jesus assured them that while it is impossible for humans, with God, all things are possible: “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible” (Mk 10:27).

Giving Up Possessions

Attaining eternal life or entering the kingdom of God may seem impossible for the rich, but it is equally challenging for those who have left everything for the sake of the kingdom. Following Jesus requires letting go of everything, including wealth and possessions: “When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:11). The rich young man was unwilling to part with his possessions. Letting go of material things becomes possible only by the grace of God and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Mary, the Young Virgin: In contrast to the rich young man in the Gospels, we see the young Virgin Mary, who was willing to surrender everything (Lk 1:38) in obedience to God's will. At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel reminded Mary that becoming the mother of God in human terms would be impossible. However, with God, through her acceptance of His word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it became possible for Mary, a young virgin, to become the mother of the Savior: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Lk 1:37). Mary recognized this truth when she thought of her aged cousin Elizabeth, once considered barren, but now, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, would give birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.

The Reward for Following Christ:

In response to this teaching, Peter asked Jesus a heartfelt question: “Look, we have left everything and followed you” (Mk 10:28). Peter, like the other disciples, hoped that their sacrifice would make them worthy of the kingdom. Indeed, they had left everything, and eventually, they would even give their lives for Christ after His resurrection.

Jesus, fully aware of their devotion, made a profound promise to His beloved disciples:

“Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields-with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mk 10:29-30).

The rich young man failed to grasp this. Those who follow Christ will be rewarded with a new family-one larger and richer in love, faith, and fellowship. This reward ultimately points to the true gift, which is eternal life in the age to come-the very thing the rich man had asked of Jesus.

Points for Personal Reflections:

In light of today's readings, we are challenged to ask ourselves: Are we, like the rich young man, unwilling to part with the things that keep us from following Jesus fully? Do we have the wisdom to discern and embrace the call of Christ, even when it demands difficult sacrifices? Let us allow God's living word to transform our hearts, giving us the courage to follow Him wherever He leads. 

For us today, the question remains: What is the one thing that stands between us and truly following Christ? What are we unwilling to let go of for the sake of the Kingdom? Jesus’ invitation to the rich young man is extended to each of us. Are we willing to part with anything that hinders our relationship with God, trusting that in Him, we find the true treasure of eternal life?

Let us reflect on this Gospel message and examine our own hearts. What is our attachment to wealth, possessions, or other distractions? Are we willing, like the apostles, to leave everything and follow Christ?

May God grant us the wisdom to discern His call and the courage to follow Him with undivided hearts-Amen.

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