28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Wisdom 7:7-11
Psalm 90:12-13, 14-15 16-17 (14)
Hebrews 4:12-13
Mark 10:17-30
October 13, 2024
Do you allow the Lord to be in charge of your life?
Do you pray for prudence?
Do you pray for wisdom?
Is the Wisdom of the Lord more valuable to you than power, “scepter and throne”?
Do you realize that earthly riches like gold and silver are nothing compared to the Spirit of Wisdom the Lord offers?
Then why don’t you like to what the Lord says?
You want to be filled with joy. Then ask the Lord to teach you and give you “wisdom of heart” and his love. These are the things we are created for. They are the only things that can bring us everlasting joy.
Again, do you let the Lord guide your life? Every part of your life?
I said a couple of weeks ago that we need to consider how our faith is part of the way we vote. This is not being political. It is seeking to have our faith permeate our whole life. It is only when we let our faith permeate our whole life that we can find everlasting joy.
The wisdom we are given will guide us in the choices we make, that is, if we let it.
We also rely on the “word of God” that is “living and effective.” There are those who want to say the Bible, the Word of God, is outdated. On what basis do they say this?
Yes, the settings of the stories in the Bible are 2,000 years old or more. The world has changed. That doesn’t make the Word of God outdated or irrelevant. It is a living Word. Our Catholic Church has been led by the Holy Spirit for 2,000 years. The Holy Spirit has led the Church to apply what God has always taught to the changing world. The Word of God is “living and effective, sharper than a two-edged sword.”
Do you allow yourself to be transformed by the Word of God? Do you hear the Word of God only with your ears or do you allow it to penetrate your heart and soul?
It is when we let the Holy Spirit penetrate our hearts that we are able to discern God’s plan.
I think people who know anything about God want to have a place in Heaven. Who won’t? The question is do we live in this world in accord with seeking our place in Heaven?
A man came to Jesus and asked him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a question we should all want the answer to.
Jesus responds by referring to the commandments. The man responds, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Can you say the same? I wish I could.
I think everyone who knows of God would agree with the commandment, you shall not kill. The trouble is some of them define the beginning and end of life in such a way that takes innocent life because they don’t see it as life.
Jesus cites the 6th Commandment, you shall not commit adultery. Many people define adultery very narrowly. They will say that as long as sexual activity is consensual, then it is okay. Led by the Holy Spirit, our Catholic faith says any sexual activity that goes against God’s design violates what God intends in the 6th Commandment.
Then, there is the 7th Commandment, you shall not steal. I doubt any of you have robbed a bank but have you taken something that doesn’t belong to you? If you are a business owner, do you pay your employees fairly? If you are the employee, do you do a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay?
Are you honest in dealings with others, keeping the 8th Commandment, you shall not bear false witness?
After the man says he has observed all the commandments, Jesus replies, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven.”
The gospel then says the man went away sad because he had many possessions. The common interpretation is that he won’t give up his possessions. It doesn’t say that. It doesn’t tell us what he did after he went away sad. Maybe he did give up everything to follow Jesus!
Are you willing to give up everything to follow Jesus?
If we want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to be willing to give up everything, to hand everything over to God.
It’s not just earthly objects we need to give up. We need to give up worldly ways. The camel cannot pass through the eye of the needle, the small entry way to the city, loaded with baggage.
We cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven loaded with earthly baggage. Knowing Jesus is more than expecting to have a place in Heaven. To truly know Jesus is follow him as the way and the truth and the life.
It might seem impossible for us but not for God.
As the opening prayer says, “May your grace, O Lord, we pray…make us always determined to carry out good works.”