Daily Meditation: "It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven... "

Gospel text (Mt 19,23-30):

Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven". On hearing this the disciples were astonished and said, "Who, then, can be saved?". Jesus looked steadily at them and answered, "For humans it is impossible, but for God all things are possible".

Then Peter spoke up and said, "You see we have given up everything to follow you: what will be our lot?". Jesus answered, "You who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you, too, will sit on twelve thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name's sake, they will receive a hundredfold and be given eternal life. Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first".

Meditation

"It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven... Who, then, can be saved?"

Today, we contemplate the reaction provoked by the dialogue of Jesus with the rich young man: "Who, then, can be saved?" (Mt 19:25). The words our Lord addressed to the rich young man are very tough and severe, but they are supposed to awake and surprise our drowsiness. They are not isolated words, to be found here and there in the Gospels: this type of message is repeated twenty times. We must remember it: Jesus warns us of the obstacle riches and wealth represents to enter life...

And, despite it all, Jesus loved and called wealthy men, without demanding from them the abandonment of their responsibilities. Wealth, per se, is not bad; its origin is, if it was unjustly acquired or its destination, if it is selfishly employed without bearing in mind the needy, if it closes our heart to the true spiritual values (where there is no need of God).

"Who can be saved?". Jesus responds: "For humans it is impossible, but for God all things are possible" (Mt 19:26). —Lord, You know quite well men's skills to attenuate your Word. I must say it, Lord, help me! Convert my heart.

After the rich young man left, sadly, because he wanted to stick to his wealth, Peter spoke and said: —Grant, O Lord, your Church and your Apostles, to be capable of abandoning everything for You.

"On the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory..." (Mt 19:28). Your thoughts are aiming towards this “day”, towards the future. You are a man with a tendency towards the end of the world, towards the plenitude of man. Then, Lord, everything will be new, renewed and beautiful.

Jesus Christ says: —"You who have given up everything will sit with the Son of Man... Will receive a hundredfold... and be given eternal life... (cf. Mt 19:28-29).

The future you promise to your disciples, to those who have followed you and have given up all obstacles... is a happy future, and it is the abundance of life, the plenitude of life.

—Thank you Lord. Guide me towards that day!

Fr. Fernando PERALES i Madueño
(Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

Source: evangeli.net

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Audio: Tuesday 20th in Ordinary Time