Title: Meditation: Monday, May 27, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 27, 2002
The Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 111:1-2,5-6,9-10
Mark 10:17-27
A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .
All things are possible with God. (see Mark 10:27)
Why does Jesus tell us that it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the
kingdom of God? Surely, God is not prejudiced against the rich; indeed,
He gave them the talents and ambition to succeed. Difficulties are not
God's doing but man's. Success requires time and energy-consuming labor;
its focus is "reaching the top" and staying there. Wealth also brings
power, prestige, possessions, all that feeds the ego and places self
above others. Considering the general spiritual state of humanity, we
can see why a wealthy person would loathe divesting himself sufficiently
of worldly goods in order to become a dedicated follower of Christ,
assume a more austere and risky lifestyle.
God rejoices in giving us gifts, but when He bestows great talents in
various fields, their recipients fail to see that God has given them a
sacred trust. This means they are to use their talents to improve the
lot of all humanity rather than merely elevating themselves. Instead we
read of the Enron and Anderson scandals. We see our work force
unemployed while our American manufacturers grow rich from exploiting
third-world labor. Still, Jesus assures His disciples that all is
possible to God, even salvation for the rich; for His grace flows
increasingly to all, possibly more insistently toward the rich who have
greater distractions to overcome and more of worldly pleasures to
forfeit.
All powerful and loving Triune God,
teach us to live in a community of love as You do.
May we then generously share with one another
the great good you shower upon us.
Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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