TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30)
Many Catholics are familiar with the Book of Wisdom from having attended funeral Masses. The phrase “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God” is often read there. This is true, but this statement does not encompass even a tenth of the book’s message. Wisdom was written in the first century before Christ, although the author speaks as if he were King Solomon, some nine hundred years earlier.
Today’s reading from the Book of Wisdom recalls an experience from Solomon’s life. After assuming the throne of Israel at a young age, Solomon goes to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to God. On his pilgrimage, Solomon dreams that God promises him whatever he asks. The young king's answer pleases the Lord: he asks for wisdom to govern well a people as great as Israel. So God grants him not only prudence, practical wisdom, but also wealth and other goods.
Prudence helps us to make good decisions. There are almost always many options for any decision we face. We can drive to work, ride a bike, or take a bus, for example. Prudence prompts us to consult those who know the factors involved. In our case, we might want to ask the weatherman if it is going to rain and the person who knows the route if there are potholes in the streets. Thus, prudence points us to the most profitable option. Furthermore, prudence gives us the determination to put into practice the decision once it has been made. It does not allow us to waste time wondering whether we have made the right decision.
The rich man who approaches Jesus in today's gospel needs prudence. He is about to make the most significant decision of his life: how will he live to attain eternal life, his goal? He displays the principle of virtue by consulting Jesus, an accomplished teacher, before making his decision. Prudence also enlightens the man, who recognizes that Jesus not only knows how to reach eternal life, but that he is eternal life itself. Jesus is the pearl of great value. Like the merchant who sells all his belongings to buy this pearl, the man should leave his wealth to the needy in order to follow the Lord.
Unfortunately, his prudence fails him. The rich man cannot carry out what his heart judges to be profitable. Because of his desire to retain his wealth, “his face fell, and he went away sad.” For him, his money has become a curse. It is like opium for the addict: although he knows that it prevents him from developing as a person, he cannot let it go.
Jesus also asks us to give up our resources to follow him. Perhaps he does not demand that we do so immediately, as he did with the rich man in the gospel. But to follow him, we are obliged to share our wealth with those who live in need. If we don’t, our chance for eternal happiness will be as slim as a camel’s passing through the eye of a needle. If we do, we can anticipate the glory of meeting Jesus face to face.
The reading ends with Jesus consoling the disciples who have left everything at once to follow him. He says that their reward is good in this world (“a hundredfold”) and excellent in eternal life. The reference to those who have left everything makes us think of priests and religious women. Do they all live happily? Unfortunately, one cannot answer “yes” categorically. It is possible to be a priest or religious and grab a new car, a satisfying job, or an affirming friendship. We too, priests and religious, like other Christians, are challenged to follow Jesus closely.
