Written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081820.cfm
The story is told about a visitor who had just arrived at a monastery where this person was going to stay for a while on retreat. The monk graciously showed this visitor to their room and very hospitably said: “You’re very welcome here and we hope you enjoy your stay. If there’s anything you need, just let us know and we’ll show you how to live without it.”
I imagine that visitor squirmed a little at that remark. In the same way, Jesus’ message in our Gospel today may make us squirm because Jesus is calling us to that same spirit of detachment in order to enter the kingdom. The disciples certainly squirmed. Knowing all they had already given up, Peter even asked, “what’s in it for us?” They got upset, too, when Jesus said that it was hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God and for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle because wealth was considered to be a sign of God’s favor. So, is our gospel today really about what a camel can or cannot do? Is it about wealth or poverty? Is it about what we each possess or what we give up?
For one thing, Jesus is teaching that we can’t enter the kingdom because of our own accomplishments or achievements; the kingdom is God’s gift.
And, as ever, Jesus is calling us to a bigger picture. He’s talking about being his disciples and how, when and where we follow him. He’s calling us to be poor in spirit. He’s talking about dying to self, the values we espouse, the suffering and sacrifice we are willing to accept, and the conversion of our heart. Simply, he’s talking about what we love and who we love for the sake of the kingdom.
As we heard again today, being Jesus’ disciple is challenging and, overall, has to do with relationships across the board…our relationship with money, with possessions, and, most importantly, with people. Are any of them more important than my relationship with Jesus? To be a follower means to not let any person or thing come before Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus is primary, and what we heard today is not a list of directives, rules and regulations, but rather an invitation to walk with Christ, and surrender our hearts, and all that our hearts love, in trust to him.
In response to Peter’s question: “What’s in it for us?”, Jesus answers very clearly to him, and to us. Those who follow him, inheriting eternal life is what’s in it for us.
