28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (14th October)
In today’s story of the rich man, who comes to Jesus full of good intentions, there are some simple words that speak so clearly to our own age: when Jesus tells him to sell everything and give it to the poor, “his face fell at these words, and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.” “How sad it is that such a keen (he runs up to Jesus), and by all accounts good-looking young man (whom Jesus loves) could not free himself from the word thing that was holding him back – his dependence on riches. Jesus’ words “How hard it is …” perhaps indicate his own sadness that the man could not free himself from this. Jesus’ teaching was new – as the disciples’ reaction shows. In Israel at the time, riches were thought to be a blessing from God. But as Jesus knew and taught, holding on to anything that passes away can distract us from holding on to things that are eternal.
Today’s Readings
Wisdom 7: 7-1
Hebrews 4: 12-13
Mark 1: 17-30
