Through the eye of a needle

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Tuesday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Ezekiel 28:1-10.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:23-30.

Mass Introduction (Fr. S…)

Today’s two scripture readings are connected in each other.

The city of Tyre and its regular have achieved great success in profit making business and power that they put their faith and security in their possession and wealth which ultimately because their God in idol worship.

In the Gospel, Jesus used very strong words as to who would receive eternal life. Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel  to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Here, we have some points for reflections.

*The ultimate end of man is to know, love and serve God  and enjoy eternal life with Him forever.

* God wants to share with us the eternal life and this is a gift from God. We cannot achieve it by human endeavours.

* Wealth and power pose a great danger to inherit eternal life. In today’s materialistic World, it is impossible to evade its influence.

* Left to ourselves eternal life seems impossible to attain. But with God’s grace all things are possible, Mt. 19:26, and God’s grace becomes available when we turn to Jesus in repentance. The Holy Spirit can enlighten us to the emptiness of the worldly riches and show us the eternal treasure of our faith in Jesus.

Commentary of the day
                                  

Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072), hermit then Bishop, Doctor of the Church 

Sermon 9, PL 144, 549-553 

To give up everything and follow Christ

      It is a great thing, in truth, to “give up everything”, but greater “to follow Christ”, for, as we learn in books, many people gave up everything but did not follow Christ. Following Christ is our task, our work, in that consists the main part of man’s salvation, but we cannot follow Christ if we do not leave behind everything which hinders us. Because “like an athlete he joyfully runs his course” (Ps 19:6) and no one can follow him laden down with a burden. 

      Peter said, “We have given up everything”, not only worldly goods, but also the desires of our heart. For those who remain attached, even just to their own life, have not given up everything. Moreover, it’s no good leaving everything behind except one’s self, for there is no burden heavier than our ego. What tyrant is crueller, what master more pitiless for man than his own will? ... Consequently, we must give up our possessions and our own will, if we want to follow him who had “nowhere to rest his head” (Lk 9:58) and who came “not to do his own will but the will of the one who sent him” (Jn 6:38