Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them from the power of their despoilers, they did not listen to their judges, but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods. They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken, and did not follow their example of obedience to the commandments of the LORD. Judges 2:16-17
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:21-22
Piety
O God, in your love you have given each of us gifts and talents to serve the common good. Help us to use them generously and lovingly, for we are you children. Free us from the desire to serve only our own interests, and help us to grown in the spirit of love that makes us sisters and brothers. Amen. (From the People’s Companion to the Breviary Volume II. This is for morning prayer today.)
Study
Although there are other passages in which Jesus enumerates the greatest commandments, today’s encounter with the rich young man gives us a version of those New Testament commandments. Later in Matthew, Jesus lays down the two greatest commandments: He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39
For us to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with our entire mind, we can not have any distractions pulling us away. Not the fancy car or boat, not the 401K, not the nice jewelry or the bigger house. Not the softball league, the Redskins season tickets, and not the nice prom dress. Without these kinds of possessions, we will get rid of everything that keeps us from God.
A few years ago, when I first met the Catholic poet and activist Rose Berger, she said something about her way of life. She always wanted to be able to open her home to anyone from an old friend to a homeless beggar. To be free for this and not worry about any of her “stuff,” she vowed not to acquire anything that she would be sorry to lose.
We may not be able to emulate that pledge, but it has freed Rose to be able to have no distractions. Once we cut our ties to all of these kinds of attachments, then it is easy to love our neighbor as ourselves. We will never be jealous of their possessions. We will never be jealous of their relationships. We will not be tempted to steal anything because of false desires. Thus freed, nothing will keep us from loving our neighbor as we would like others to love us.
Action
Christianity is not a Sunday exercise. Christianity is a daily challenge. Christianity is a way of life, not just a way of faith.
We may contemplate today’s Gospel and dismiss it as the type of instruction which is only followed in monasteries and convents. However, if we take it to heart, we can start freeing ourselves from the possessions that “hold us so tight.”
Another life style choice Rose Berger elected may be a first step for us. Whenever she buys a book or movie or music, she gives away something else already in her collection. The next time you are browsing the shelves at Borders or the pages of www.Amazon.com, think about what you can cast off when you bring home the latest best-seller. It might take a little longer to get rid of all our possessions this way, but in the end, we will leave them behind one way or another.
