DAILY MEDITATION: “It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven... Who then can be saved?”

Liturgical day: Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel text (Mt 19,23-30): Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said to him in reply, We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

“It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven... Who then can be saved?”

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

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 awaken 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 represent 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 then can be saved?” Jesus responds: “For men this 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 keep his wealth, Peter spoke and said: —Grant, O Lord, your Church and your Apostles, the capability of abandoning everything for You.

“In the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of 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 hundred times more... and will inherit 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!

Source: evangeli.net