The text of today’s Gospel presents a story of a rich young man who goes to meet Jesus. Mark doesn’t say that he was young, but Matthew presented him as young. So we have combined both adjectives to describe him as young and rich.
Mark tries to narrate the way he approached Jesus: He comes running and kneels before Jesus. The Gospel had presented two other characters, who also behave like this man. One is the demoniac, one who was possessed with an evil spirit. The other is the leper, who feels impure and distant. This young and rich man behaves as if he has a demon inside him that makes him impure and he needs to be freed from this demon.
He has the most dangerous of demons that leads him to cling to the goods of this world. It is the devil that makes you attach your heart to the riches of the world.
It dehumanises you. In Chinese culture, money is like God. On New Year Day, we wish one another “Gung-hei Faat-choi” – which means “wish you plenty of wealth.”
But an Italian priest and poet, Father Turoldo has a different take on riches. He says, “I will never wish evil on anyone, but if I had to do it, I will wish him the worst of the evils: to become rich, to accumulate an infinity of goods because that way he will be dehumanised.”
The greed of money will make you lose the meaning of life. This man looks for the only thing that Jesus can give: inner harmony in a life that lasts. What Jesus proposes to this man is to give a different gear to his life. He says: “you must share your assets. They are not yours, they are God’s and you must share them with those who need them.” Give up, abandon, part with — are the words we must pay attention to. The rich and young man moves away sad.
Jesus is clear: one does not enter into the new world that he proposes unless one accepts the logic of sharing the goods with all; goods that must be transformed into love. Jesus wants to bring to our attention the danger of wealth because wealth possesses the strength of a seductive god.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle….” It cannot happen, even if it tries. “For people it is impossible, but not for God; because for God everything is possible.” When Jesus’ proposal is allowed to penetrate your heart, you understand that this humanises you and you can drive out the demon and make yourself available to your brothers and sisters.
For your reflection
Where do you believe that true happiness lies? What paths have you travelled so far to seek it? Is your heart free to be available to your brothers and sisters?
Father Fernando Torres CMF
www.ciudadredonda.org
Translated by
Father Alberto Rossa CMF
