When we share some of our time, knowledge, riches … we strengthen our community which makes us richer, too
Twenty-eight Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 13, 2024
It seems very unfair of Jesus to tell the young man to give away his wealth! However, we believe that God always does good things to us, or that hardships bring better things tomorrow.
Now, what is good about giving away our wealth? Where’s the Wisdom? Let us reflect upon the negatives that big wealth brings. Studies have shown that people who win big lottery/ gambling payouts are often become worse off after a few years, because they misuse the money, indulge in excessive pleasure, etc. Many suffer family breakup due to arguments.
But the key danger of large wealth is the false feeling that we no longer depend on others: money allows more independence. Exceptional knowledge and skills can also become a danger: we might become superior to (arrogant), and judgemental of others.
Money and status can become barriers in relationships: trust can breakdown; we spend too much time safeguarding our wealth rather than being with family/ friends. We can even lose our relationship with God. So our sense of belonging will reduce as our isolation increases.
However, when we share our wealth, knowledge or help others with our skills, we build stronger relationships and increase our sense of belonging, and emotional wellbeing.
The following story illustrates this (Author Unknown). There was a farmer growing award-winning corn. Each year the corn was entered in the State fair where it won first prize. A newspaper reporter interviewed the farmer and learned something interesting about how he grew it: that the farmer shared his best seed corn with his neighbours.
“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in the same competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked. “Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn.”
He’s very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless the corn of his neighbours also improves. So with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbours to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
Too often, reflecting on this Gospel, many of us just focus on the wealth of money and forget that Jesus is talking about all wealth: our time, skills, knowledge, tools, experience, etc. And this is especially important as we grow older, into the second half of life.
In the second half of life, happiness does not come from acquiring more, but through our sharing and giving away bit by bit, that which we have acquired in the first half of life. But, on a smaller scale, every day/ week should be a mix of the first & second halves of life.
When we don’t have a job, we are wealthy with time, but do we ever think of doing some community service? Mentoring young people? Being a sports coach? Cleaning the streets? It is stressful not to have a job, but as we give our time to help others, God will reward us: perhaps a future employer will be inspired? A future spouse? Who knows what will happen.
Likewise, after working for a time and establishing ourselves, can we consider a career change that benefits the community: politics? Teaching? Leadership in charitable groups for the environment or those with disabilities. This way, we give away our knowledge and skills to empower the whole community where we live and where our children will live.
Secondly, Jesus is not telling us to neglect our duties! Jesus is not telling us to give away all our wealth while we still have responsibilities to meet: only what we have excess of today.
Today, can give away some of our wealth/ knowledge? The story above reminds us that when we empower our neighbours, our community is stronger/ richer, and that makes us richer, too. This is reflected in the last part of the Gospel where Jesus encourages the Disciples to see that any sacrifice they make for the Kingdom of God will be rewarded one hundred times more.
The eye of the needle is a special security gate into the city, used at night time, after the main gates were closed. To enter, your baggage/ wealth had to be removed. It symbolises our entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the Wisdom explained in the First Reading.
As we become more educated/ wealthy, there is a temptation to make God a “job” or a part of our lives, rather than a partner in everything we do. A partnership with God empowers our decisions with Wisdom to enrich us today and tomorrow, and reduces selfish actions.
Jesus is inviting us to do two things this week: 1) reflect on what wealth we have; and 2) how we might share it with those who are in need: our generosity will create a happy and peaceful community that protects us today and our children tomorrow.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI