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As Americans, we live in a culture that encourages materialism supported by financial prosperity. It seems like every where we turn there is some form of advertisement that is encouraging us to purchase something, to indulge ourselves and to keep up with whatever is momentarily “in”. Mass marketing tools are constantly being used through whatever means possible to encourage us to spend, spend, spend.
In an economy that is based on supply and demand, spending is seen as contributing to the common good. A healthy economy is one in which business is booming in turn meaning more jobs for more people. Jobs are important for meeting the daily needs in this world. After all we are not just spiritual beings, but we also have physical needs that must be met.
If we do not think that these things are important then I suggest a visit to a Third World country where many live in extreme poverty. In many Third World countries electricity is a luxury and a hot shower is a fantasy. What we as Americans take for granted as part of our lives is non-existent for many of the poor in this world.
For example, this past week, I had my yearly physical and a flu shot. This is something that most Americans take for granted. Yet, in many countries people may live their entire lives without seeing a doctor. Modern medicine that we take for granted in America is something unheard of by the poor in Third World Countries whose governments choose to spend their funds enriching the wealthy few and or building up military arsenals, instead of helping their own people.
This past week for example, North Korea declared that it had tested their first nuclear weapon successfully. When the countries at the UN voiced their displeasure, the ambassador from North Korea was offended and demanded that his country be congratulated. Yet, very few North Korean citizens own cars. Bicycles are the main form of transportation for those who can afford it. The fields are not plowed by modern machines, but by animal driven plows. For the few wealthy who can afford electricity, it is shut off every evening promptly at 9PM throughout the country - except in the capital where the North Korean dictator lives.
While just south of the demarcation line in South Korea, electricity is part of the daily life of its citizens. There are no mandated nightly electricity power shut downs in South Korea. In fact, South Korea has a bustling economy - especially compared to North Korea.
Yet, as we learned from our recent guest speaker, a farm worker from Immokolee, even in America, there are still those who are struggling to make a living. In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, verse 11, Jesus said, "the poor will always be with us." Yet, that does not give us the excuse to shrug our shoulders and to look the other way. Instead, we are called to serve Christ by serving others, which includes the poor. Mother Theresa, who gave up her wealthy position into which she was born, to serve the poor and the outcasts of Calcutta, India, claimed that she saw the face of Christ in the faces of the poor, the outcasts and the dying.
In the time of Jesus, Jews who were wealthy were seen as being blessed by God. With this blessing came a responsibility to reach out and to help those in need. In the gospel reading for today from Mark, Jesus tells a wealthy person to sell all of his possessions and to give the money to the poor, then to leave his home and to follow Jesus. Now Jesus did not say this to test the person, instead scripture tells us that it was out of love for the man, because he had been faithful in keeping the Ten Commandments. This was a special invitation from the Son of God to become one of His followers.
When we read this we may think, what a fool that person was to walk away from Jesus. He missed the opportunity of a life time. Yet, how many of us would be willing to give up all that we own to follow the Lord to serve Him by ministering to the poor in a Third World country? Suddenly, the choice the wealthy man chose may not seem too far from our own.
Jesus was not offering this person a corner office with a view. He was not offering him a generous expense account and a prestigious title. Instead, Jesus was offering this man something of even greater value than this world could ever give. Jesus was offering him the chance to learn face to face from the Son of God the key to eternal life.
Obtaining the key to eternal life is determined by where our priority is. If we trust in this world’s riches and standards then our reward will be given to us in the here and now. However, if we are willing to give the Lord all we have and trust in Him to sustain us, than we will be given eternal life. It is a matter of surrender.
Are we willing to surrender all for Christ’s sake? Are we willing to give the Lord complete authority over every aspect of our lives? The wealthy man walked away, because he could not put his trust in Christ. He could live a life that was obedient to the law, because that gave him respect in his community. He could share his wealth with the poor through almsgiving, because that gave him prestige. But when the rubber hit the road and Jesus told him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”, it was too much for him.
This is truly one of the saddest stories in the Bible, because it is a monumental missed opportunity. We are not even given the name of this man. He is recorded anonymously. Silently, he fades away from our view. A man who could have been one of the noted Apostles now becomes a Nobody.
Yet, what Jesus asked him to do was no less than what Jesus had done. Jesus the Son of God left the riches of Heaven to live as a poor carpenter. The Son of God willingly left behind that which is eternal to enter into the world of that which is temporal. He did this not for respect, prestige or fame. No, He willingly took on mortal flesh so that He could lay down His life for us in order to give us eternal life.
In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 31-33, Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’”
Last Sunday we learned about the life of St. Francis. He was a wealthy young man who gave up even his fine clothing to serve the Lord. We learned about his sufferings for the sake of Christ. We also learned about the joy that was given to him from the Lord and how he even welcomed death with singing.
When we put the stories of these two men side to side, both who at one time had much wealth, perhaps we can learn something. For one thing, the name of St. Francis is well known throughout the world as his ministry for Christ continues hundreds of years later through the holy order named after him. As for the wealthy man who turned away from Jesus, he remains unknown.
Today each one of us is given a choice. We can choose to follow the Christ and all that entails or we can follow after the world. How we choose will determine for whom we are living. Are we living for ourselves or for Christ? The prophet Amos writes, “Seek the Lord and live”. The decision is up to us. Who will we choose?
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