Seeking to Inherit Eternal Life

Dear Parish Family,

While running around doing my errands with my husband, there were two songs that came up in the playlist that really got my attention: The Beatles, Dear Prudence, followed by Baby, You’re a Rich Man. Funny that they both came up, as I was preparing to write this letter. I know those songs have nothing to do with our readings today, however the words that stayed with me echoed our message.

Such as the first words in the song, “Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play” and the first words in our first reading, “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” Calling on the virtue of prudence to be present. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our “true good” in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; I remember as a child my mother often reminded me to pray for prudence, as I needed to think before I spoke out loud.

When I did, I notice I did not put my foot in my mouth quite as much. In our Gospel, a young, rich man is seeking to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells the man to give up his earthly possessions (his treasure will be in heaven) and follow him. This was something that saddens the man, for he had many possessions he didn’t want to give up, and he walked away. Jesus responds, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” What does this mean? Does God need us to be poor in order to inherit eternal life? Are we not allowed to have good things in life? Doesn’t God want our happiness? He not only wants our happiness but our Salvation too!

If we only look on the surface, it can put us, like the young man, in a bit of an identity crisis. Are we of this world, or are we seeking the Kingdom of God? The world tells us that wealth and possessions equate successes, this is what we all strive for and must make many sacrifices to obtain. When we go beyond our basic needs, pursuing to acquire luxury to excess, and it is never enough.

I may think, I’m not rich! I don’t own my own house or have all the luxuries ... yet I needed the taunting reminder in the Beatles song “Baby you’re a rich man; Baby you’re a rich man; Baby you’re a rich man too.” I know that after I have had my fill of a satisfying meal, rarely do I think of who is hungry around me. However, before my meal I look to see who I can share my meal with ... two very different thoughts and actions. Our comforts can keep us from seeing the need in our brothers and sisters.

Jesus doesn’t want to make it difficult for us to follow him, but he does want us to follow him with our whole heart. Sometimes this requires that we make changes in our lives to be Jesus’ disciple. If we truly believe our Home is in heaven, why would we be surprised that Jesus asks us to leave behind our possessions? Our physical wealth on this earth should not be what holds us back from entering the Kingdom of God. Let us always pray for prudence and wisdom, to keep us focused on our identity, Children of God and heirs of his kingdom, making our treasure in heaven, not on this earth.

Siempre Adelante,
​
​Tere Delgado
Faith Formation Minister

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