THE DANGER OF RICHES (Homily for Tuesday of the 20th week in the ordinary time )

Theme: The danger of riches

Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30

A story is told of a man who frequents the daily morning masses in prayer to God for the safe arrival of his goods at the seaport but with the safe arrival of his goods, he becomes absent at morning masses, because he is busy attending to the needs of his business. His riches take precedence over his spiritual life.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, central to the liturgy of the word today is Jesus' teaching on the danger of riches. In the Gospel pericope that we just heard,  Jesus acknowledged that it will be easier for a Carmel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mt 19:23-24). 

The teaching of Jesus does not ostracise the rich from making heaven rather it speaks of the difficulty, danger and hardship, rich people encounter in their struggle to enter the kingdom of God. The word of God says: “Where one's treasure is, there will his heart be also (Mt 6:21). When a rich man distracted is with the worldly things of life (wealth and prosperity), the tendency is for him/her to forget the affairs of the kingdom of God. This is rightly so because “No one can serve two masters at a time; either he hates the first and love the other, or be devoted to the first and hate the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth” (Mt 6:24). There is also the likelihood that riches can ferment pride, arrogance, unchecked attachment to wealth and prosperity and a sense of independence from God as the Divine provider. 

The Apostles we are told were taken aback when they heard the declaration of Jesus concerning the rich. They asked: “Who then can be saved?” (Mt 19:25). During the time of Jesus and likewise in our own time, riches, wealth and prosperity are considered signs of God's favour and blessing. Hence, it is commonly acknowledge that the kingdom of God is not far from them. However, the statement of Jesus riggled their conception. 

Friends in Christ, yes indeed all good gifts around us are sent from God above however, the entrance into the kingdom of God is determined by the charitable use of these gifts. The word of God tells us that whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me” (Mt 25:40). The rich should come to terms with the truth that they are instruments in the hands of God to reach out to the poor, less privilege, destitute, orphans, widows and widowers, the needy, the abandoned, the hungry, the thirsty, the captives, the sorrowful and depressed etc and grant them charity. This way the rich brings to fruition the purpose and plan of God for humanity.

The effect of pride and arrogance fermented by riches and wealth seemingly strolls into the first reading of today from the book of prophet Ezekiel. The city of Tyre and its King is being chastized by God through prophet Ezekiel for the pride and arrogant declaration of its status as “god”. “The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, say to the prince of Tyre, thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, I am a god;  I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas, yet you are mortal...i will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; they shall draws swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendour” (Ezek 28:1-2, 6-8).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, a proud man is an abomination before God (proverb 16:5). By pride, the human person denies the need of God in his/her life, the sense of dependence on God in completely thwarted, God is driven away from the center of human affairs and the human person is enthroned as the all and all. The human person becomes entirely materialistic and nothing spiritual defines him. Hence, the loss of the vision and vocation of man.

Let us approach God with reverence and humility that He may enlighten us and grant us the graces that will accompany us to use the resources within our disposition for charitable works. 

Have a fruitful day

Fr Remi osj