“Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:25-26).

The disciples are “greatly astonished” about Jesus’ comments about how difficult it would be for the rich to enter heaven. Their astonishment came from the belief system that those who had wealth did so because they had been blessed by God for following his commandments. Just remember the rich young man’s attitude from yesterday. He had followed God’s commands and was blessed with riches, but Jesus turned his world upside down when he asked the man to give up all he had to follow him.

Jesus attempted to help the man and his disciples to understand that what we have, all that we have, is a gift from God, starting with our very existence. He is the ground, the source, and sustenance of our life as well as our ultimate fulfillment. A problem arises when we place our security in material things ahead of God who provides them for us. If our security is dependent on that which is finite, we are always going to be left unfulfilled, attached, and/or at worst addicted, and so like the rich man, unwilling to give of ourselves to those in need, because we are afraid, we won’t have enough. Also, when we look to our own effort and work ethic, we can build a reliance on our self alone. We can place ourselves as the supplier of our security instead of God. Pride then becomes a dangerous idol. We think and start to believe that we don’t need God because we can do well enough on our own thank you very much.

“Who then can be saved?” The disciple’s question can then very easily be our own. If we can’t buy, earn, or achieve our way into heaven, how will we get there? Jesus is clear. For human beings, this is impossible because there is no means for us to get to heaven on our own merit. But for God, all things are possible because he is our source. In our complete surrender and reliance on God, we are saved. Our redemption comes when we are willing to receive the gift of his love that he so much wants to share with us.

In our gratefulness for what we have and recognition that the source comes from God, we can share freely, because God is unlimited. As we give from what God has given, God will continue to supply. What is primary then is deepening our relationship with him and collaborating with him. As we do so, we will have the proper orientation to encounter one another in love.

What is essential is not what we have, but that we recognize that God is the source of what we have, that he will provide and be present with us. Time goes by fast. This life that we have been given is good, but it is also finite, and fragile. Let us not take each other, what we have, or the time we have been given in this life for granted. Let us allow ourselves to be loved by God, to love God in return, and to love each other as he loves us. “Let us encourage one another while it is still today” (Hebrews 3:13).

Photo: Some quiet time with Jesus, Vero Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Tuesday, August 20, 2024