THE DOMINANCE OF THE VALUABLES

First Reading: Wis 7:7-11
Second Reading: Heb 4:12-13

Gospel: Mk 10:17-27

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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