First Reading: Wis 7:7-11
Second Reading: Heb 4:12-13
Dear friends we are in the twenty-eighth
Sunday of the Ordinary Time. The readings of the day are about the things which
we value the most in life. Across the world, Gold and diamond are the most valuables
materials. Many people amass these two materials over monetary wealth or try to
have their money in the form of these two materials. The high value that these
two materials have, attracts people towards them. Let us pause for a while and
ask ourselves; what makes these materials (Gold and Diamond) the most valuables
in the world? Are these two materials really have such a great worth to be considered
as valuables? Who defined that the possession of these two materials are more
worth than any other things in the world? Who certified that these two
materials are THE VALUABLES? Did gold and diamonds tell that they are more
precious than anything else that a person could have? What are the criteria do
we have to consider something as more valuable and precious piece? Your answer
please…
In the life of St. Paul, we
see that he had considered the possession of knowledge about Jesus Christ as
more valuable and precious than anything else in the world. He even said that the
accumulation of all things is dust rather nothing, in comparison to having
Jesus in his life (Phil 3:8). Was he not aware that gold, diamond or any other
metallic elements are more worthy things to possess? He did know. More than
knowing the value of these things, he discovered what made all these elements
the most valuable. The rarity and the demand to acquire gives them the value.
How come the land that is not bothered by anyone for centuries suddenly becomes
more valuable? It is the demand to acquire that land which makes it valuable. The
land does not do anything to become valuable, it is we who give it a value.
Similarly, the gold and diamond are considered precious because of their rarity
and demand to acquire it. The awareness of this made St. Paul to amass something
that is most valuable in nature than something is that is being given a
value. Yes, Jesus Christ – God in nature is the most valuable than anything
that we could consider as the valuable. This was the mindset of King Solomon in
today’s first reading too. King Solomon had all things in great capacity, yet
he preferred something which no one could think as THE IMPORTANT. Yes, it was
wisdom which Solomon preferred over everything else. The first reading, from
the book of Wisdom says that King Solomon sought wisdom above gold, wealth,
beauty, thrones and light. He even considered gold and silver as little sand
and clay respectively. He prayed, sought and received what is valuable in
nature than the things for which the world gives certificate as the most
valuable. He was not lured by the certificate of worthiness that the gold and
other riches of the world have got. He made conscious choice to be the one
who gives the value to them than to be ruled by the value they have
received from others over the centuries. Yes, king Solomon could give right
values to gold and silver as little sand and clay because of the possession of
THE VALUABLE: Wisdom.
In the Gospel also we notice
a rich young man seeking to possess eternal life. Despite adhering all the
commandments in his life, he could fell that there is something lacking in him
to possess eternal life. Jesus finds that lack and tells him the way to get out
of it. But the suggestion made Christ Jesus leaves the rich young man sad. The young
man who valued eternal life as great thing to achieve, could not accept the demand
of forgoing the wealth he has accumulated through hard work and right effort. He
has allowed himself to be dominated by the value of those wealth. Therefore, he
could not give a value to a life that is demanding renunciation of wealth which
is in nature a valuable life. He misses what King Solomon and St. Paul had had.
He lacks wisdom which could help him to make sense the truth about THE VALUABLES.
Where the worldly valuables dominate, there the truth about THE VALUABLES is hard
to find. Do we need to be dominated by the things that the world considers
valuable or do we prefer to dominate the things by giving them the value that
is their due? Remember the words of Jesus; “With men it is impossible, but not
with God; for all things are possible with God” (Mk 10:27).
May God bless you all!
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