28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
October 12, 2003

by Paul Rooney

Q. 236: Does Jesus really want us to sell all of our possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, as he says in today's gospel (Mk 10:17-30)?

A. 236:
Kinda makes 'ya nervous, doesn't it? There is a much-quoted line from a 1976 movie [rated "Morally Offensive" by the US Bishops Conference]. It starred Robert De Niro, and he asks the question, "Are YOU talking to ME?" I wonder sometimes if all of us don't get a touch of this attitude, as we anxiously try to sidestep the possibility that Jesus might want ME to answer his Call to "go, sell all that you have, and come follow me."
But let's go a little deeper. When the rich man in our gospel story "went away sad," was he being rejected by Jesus? No, because Jesus "looking on him, loved him" and then simply pointed out his greatest obstacle to his personal holiness - - he couldn't "let go" of the one thing that dominated his life, his possessions! Jesus gave a great example of how possessions can become an obstacle to holiness. He picked the largest animal that every Israelite had seen, and the smallest opening that every Israelite could recognize, and said that it was easier for that camel to get through the eye of that needle than to try to enter heaven while hanging on to your riches.

Do you shift nervously and start to think about something else, when you hear a fleeting reference to your stewardship call to tithe? Is giving to church and charity your first checkbook entry on payday, or your last? Attitude expresses itself in behavior. Come on now, look at your last tax return: what percent of your adjusted gross income went to church and charity? Maybe like the rich man in the gospel story, you will go away sad…? But "all things are possible for God." Ask him for a wise heart that will make all of your possessions available to God, if he should ever need them. If you are sincere, he will indeed give you that heart of wisdom, the heart of a good steward!

Know Your Catechism! "Poverty of spirit" means total dependence on God, especially if we are rich in this world's goods. We must prefer Jesus Christ to anything and anyone (CCC #2544); our consolation is in Jesus, not in riches (CCC #2547). "Surrender to God" does not mean we have to sell all that we have (unless God directs us to do so); rather, it means true trust in God's providence and less attention to accumulating "more" (CCC #2545).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

(Return to INDEX page of "Didja Know?" series)

(Go back to Deacon Paul's HOME PAGE)

Comments?