HE WENT AWAY SAD

TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 August 16, Monday

      With today’s first reading, we take up for some days the book of Judges. Its author presents today a sort of theology of history of the Israelites, in four stages: 1. The people desert the God of the covenant and serve Canaanite idols. 2. God is angered by their infidelity and for their punishment hands them over to Canaanite domination and exploitation. 3. Now the people come to their senses and cry out to God for mercy. 4. God hears their cries and gives them a leader, a “judge,” to liberate them and for some time they serve the Lord, until the cycle starts all over. Also, the Church knows times of greater fervor and renewal, alternating with stagnation and backsliding.

      We probably pity the young man in today’s gospel for not having the courage to give up his wealth for a higher good. He was a just man, full of good will, eager for more than an average, contented life. Yet when Jesus’ call is directed to him, he cannot decide to give up his possessions to become fully happy. But are we better than he? Are we willing to share, also when it hurts, also at a cost of ourselves?

First Reading: Judges 2:11-19           

The People of Israel did evil in God’s sight: they served Baal-gods; they deserted God, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, gods of the peoples around them. They actually worshiped them! And oh, how they angered God as they worshiped god Baal and goddess Astarte! God’s anger was hot against Israel: He handed them off to plunderers who stripped them; he sold them cheap to enemies on all sides. They were helpless before their enemies. Every time they walked out the door God was with them – but for evil, just as God had said, just as he had sworn he would do. They were in a bad way. But then God raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. But they wouldn’t listen to their judges; they prostituted themselves to other gods – worshiped them! They lost no time leaving the road walked by their parents, the road of obedience to God’s commands. They refused to have anything to do with it. When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies’ oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways – but even worse than their parents! – running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn’t drop a single evil practice.

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”

The man asked, “What in particular?”

Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”

That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

Prayer

Lord our God,
we are eager to follow your Son
wherever he leads us,
but not if we have to give up
our little or big attachments to things or persons.
God, give us the mentality of your Son
and his Spirit of courage,
that with Jesus we may not count the cost
of giving ourselves to people and to you.
Be you our only God and our all
now and for ever. Amen.

Reflection:

You lack one thing…

How much do I pay to buy a ticket to heaven? Ah that’s a stupid question, we might say. Who doesn’t know that there is no entrance fee to heaven? But having said that, many of us do hold on to similar view as that of the young man in today’s gospel – that eternal life is a reward for our good works. Through the mouth of this young man, Matthew is voicing the common misunderstanding of the time that if you do something good to please God, he would give you heaven in return. But Jesus rectifies the notion: Eternal life is always gift of God. Incidentally, this is the first time the phrase “eternal life” is mentioned in the Gospel. In the discussion that follows, this phrase is further explained as the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus reminds him of the commandments – given by God. Matthew listed five of these commandments and concluded the list with the all-embracing one: love your neighbour as yourself. The young man is a representative of the restlessness of each one of us .. He feels he is already observing all these commandments, and yet remains unsatisfied. Something is lacking! What else needs to be done? Jesus understands the restlessness of his heart: the restlessness of the human soul until it meets with its creator. Three Centuries after Jesus, another young and rich man would echo these words of the Gospel and say, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until it rests in you.” – St. Augustine of Hippo, in spite of enjoying all the happiness the world could offer, yet realised the meaningless of his life. The story of this rich young man of the gospel and the life of St. Agustine place before us a gospel-truth: the riches of this world and its pleasures fails to offer peace of mind and happiness of the heart. On the contrary, worldly pleasures and their attractions lead to further frustrations and sadness. The young man is in search of life, meaning of life and therefore, he asks: What shall I do to attain eternal life?” Jesus gave him the possible remedy, but he was not willing to take it. St. Augustine, was also in search of happiness in life and finally when comes to realise the meaning of giving up what the world offers, he enters into the joy and peace that God alone could provide. The vocation stories of Apostles – Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew – all of them tell us about how they “got up,” left their boats and the nets – gave up all they had followed Jesus. Are we willing to give up what we have?

Video available on Youtube: You lack one thing…