Twenty Eighth Sunday of the Year: B: October 10, 2021

                 GAINING ETERNAL LIFE

First Reading: Wisdom 7: 7-11

Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 12-13

Gospel Reading: Mark 10: 17-30

   *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. An explanation is given to us regarding the priceless gift of the Wisdom of God. All possessions - wealth and riches of the world - are nothing compared to the Wisdom of God. Because all good things in the world have there origin in the Wisdom of God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. An explanation about the power of the Word of God is given. The Word of God is sharper than a double-edged sword which pierces through the soul and spirit. All who believe in the Lord are warned that nothing they do can be hidden from God, for their innermost thoughts and intentions are known to Him.

The rich young man and Jesus                                                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A young man who wanted to inherit eternal life came to Jesus and sought advice from Him. After listening to him, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man confessed that he kept all the commandments all his life. After hearing this answer, Jesus looked at him with affection and invited this God-fearing and law-abiding young man to be one of His disciples. Jesus challenged him and said,"Go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor and come and follow me." When this young man heard these words of Jesus, he left Jesus and went away quietly. His vast wealth held him back from being a disciple of Jesus. If he was ready to leave his worldly possessions he would have gained eternal life. Unfortunately he was too much attached to his wealth rather than the teachings of Jesus. After this Jesus told His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were rather surprised by this observation of Jesus. Because according to the Jewish understanding , wealth and worldly possessions were sure signs of God's blessings. Hence the rich young man in the Gospel loved his possessions more than God and  he lost eternal life which he was seeking. Jesus challenges everyone of us. "If you want to be perfect, sell everything, give to the poor and then come and follow me." How many of us can accept this challenge is the question. 

"You cannot serve God and money." - Mark 6:24 and Luke 16:13