Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
I have to confess that I find in today’s gospel reading (a continuation of yesterday’s) one of the more challenging gospel passages. “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.” (Matthew 19:24) I find myself wanting to argue my way out of the challenge with defenses such as, “well, how rich does he mean?” or “rich compared to whom?” “I’m certainly no millionaire!” Yes, there is a part of me that would like to hear the opposite, such as that we will be rewarded with material wealth in this world AND the eternal riches in the next if we follow Jesus (I’m really not promoting Prosperity Theology).
Even Jesus’s disciples were surprised by what they heard, “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (19: 25) Scripture scholars tell us, and you may have noticed, that in the Old Testament, material possessions and riches are considered a sign of God’s favor, which apparently is why Jesus’ disciples reacted with astonishment to his words. This was news to them! Jesus came with the message that wealth and power- which create a false security- are not entranceways to God’s Kingdom. He emphasized, rather, that salvation is beyond our capability and depends solely on God’s goodness and grace, offered as a gift.
It is true that in our culture, wealth means power. We know that especially in our country, wealth also buys a lot of securities, including access to the best education, the best hospitals and doctors, the best nursing homes for ourselves or our aging parents, which are not equally available to all. I see, however, that this can keep us striving for and relying on wealth for greater security, rather than cultivating that trust in God, closeness with Jesus, that so often comes out of our experiences of weakness and vulnerability.
In today’s first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel (28:1-10), we hear the Lord addressing the Prince of Tyre through the prophet, challenging him for acting as if he is his own god, “you are a man, and not a god, however you may think of yourself like a god.”(28:2b) It seems that he’s let his wealth and power go to his head (and heart) such that “Your heart has grown haughty from your riches.” (28:5) When we rely on our possessions and wealth, this similar false sense of power and security can increase our pride and arrogance, rather than the humility that Jesus teaches is necessary to be a true disciple of his.
Challenging, yes, but we are not left wanting. As priest and spiritual writer Henri Nouwen puts it so beautifully (in Sabbatical Journey), “Who would worry about his few possessions when invited to be intimate with the Lord of abundance, who offers more fish than we can catch and more bread than we can eat?”
My prayer recently has been, “Lord, you know what I need…help me trust in you.” I pray that each of us this week will be able to trust a little more in order to let go of the things that prevent us from clinging with both hands to Jesus.
~Eileen Miller