What is your favourite chapter or verse in the bible? Some of us seem to have a favourite chapter or verse, which we often turn to, to remind us of God's love, to comfort us when we are facing difficulties, or when we are in need of strength and encouragement. But the bible is not only about such things. The bible also contains chapters and verses which could make us feel quite uncomfortable and uneasy, as the second reading reminds us: "The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword..." This means that the bible not only consoles us but also challenges us. It does not only promise blessings but also spells out curses which arise when we fail to remain faithful to God.
Today's Gospel is one example where reading the bible could make us feel quite uncomfortable or uneasy. Why so? In the Gospel, the rich man claimed that he had kept all the commandments from his earliest days. Then Jesus posed him a greater challenge, "Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." If you were in the rich man's shoes, how would you have felt? Quite likely some of you would have been bewildered with such a challenge. It seems crazy and absurd for us to get rid of everything that we have and become a pauper, just to follow Jesus. But what is Jesus really trying to tell us? Are you able to read between the lines?
What Jesus is trying to tell us is quite profound and concerns us as Christians, as His followers, as His disciples. Jesus is reminding us that the kingdom of God is far greater than the kingdom of men. The treasures which we will find in heaven far surpasses and outweighs the riches which we accumulate on this earth. Unless we are prepared to let go of things on this earth by being detached from them, we will not be able to gain treasures in heaven. This is because when we are concerned only on things of this life, which are temporary, will fade, and which we cannot take with us after death, then we are truly being foolish, since we are spending so much time trying to accumulate earthly things which would eventually be lost to us.
But is being rich wrong? No, that is not the point of what Jesus is trying to teach us. What Jesus is trying to tell us is to remove all obstacles, such as our riches, our pride, our wealth and possessions, or our power, which prevent and distract us from following Him and becoming truly His disciples. While we do need to survive in this world, we should not be entangled by what this world has to offer, and lose sight of our heavenly goal. As some may have heard, we should "eat to live" and not be concerned with "living to eat." This means that, like the camel in the Gospel, we must remove earthly burdens which encumber us, so that we may pass through the "eye of the needle," if we seek to be in the Kingdom of God.
Some of you may be thinking: giving up our earthly riches and being detached from them? Sounds impossible. We are surrounded by so many forms of temptations to gain more and more of what this world has to offer. How do we tear ourselves from such constant bombardment of earthly attractions? Once again, Jesus assures us: "For men it is impossible, but not for God; because everything is possible for God." May we seek God's help and grace, so that we would be able to give up all attachments that will prevent us from following Jesus, so that we would be lightened and free to strive towards His Kingdom.
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