Reflection on Today's Readings, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year 1, October 10th, 2021
Texts: Wisdom 7:7-11; Ps. 90: 12- l7; Heb. 4: 12-13; Mark 10:17-30
We are told, today, that following Jesus Christ requires a radical decision. We are not yet ready to follow Jesus Christ until we are ready to prefer Him above all things. This kind of requirement shows that He is enough for us; with Him we have all things. This is clear in today's first reading: "All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth." In the gospel reading, Jesus says to us thus: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Today's first reading speaks of wisdom as that which requires our radical decision. Jesus Christ is the personified wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:24). The message in the the reading is that Jesus Christ is to be preferred above all things. It is said, "I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases." This reminds us that Jesus is to be preferred to the position of authority. Some people have sold Jesus for positions of authority. When we are faced with the choice between position of authority and the following of Jesus, we should be able to let position of authority go.
We are also made to know that wealth is incomparable to Him. We are to prefer Jesus to wealth. Today's gospel reading shows us how it is difficult for us to give up wealth for Christ. It said, "And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." St. Paul said to Timothy thus: "Warn those who are rich in this world’s goods that they are not to look down on other people; and not to set their hopes on money, which is untrustworthy, but on God who, out of his riches, gives us all that we need for our happiness. Tell them that they are to do good, and be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share – this is the way they can save up a good capital sum for the future if they want to make sure of the only life that is real" (1Tim. 6:17-19).
Any priceless gem, either gold or silver, is not to be compared with Jesus. He is to be loved more than beauty and health; He is to be loved more than even life. Whether we are beautiful or not, we are to honour Him; in sickness and in health we are to honour Him; whether poor or rich we are to honour Him. Whatever state we find ourselves in life we are to honour JesusChrist: nothing should be matter most to us than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only one we need.
Today's second reading draws our attention to God's word. Jesus Christ is also the personified word of God (John 1:14). The word of God has been living and active since the beginning of creation. God created the world by His word, guided and directed His people by His word. The word of God is creative, renewing, inspiring and revealing. Nothing about us is hidden from Jesus Christ.
Lord our God, pour out Your love upon us that we may prefer You above all things. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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