Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30
The Book of Wisdom is the source of this weekend’s first reading. As the name implies, this ancient book was designed to insist that believing in the one God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was not ridiculous but, in fact, the ultimate in wisdom and human logic.
In this weekend’s reading, an interesting literary technique occurs. Wisdom is presented not as an abstract virtue or reality of the mind, but as a person. Possibly as a result, Christians long ago came to identify the most profound wisdom with the Holy Spirit.
Jewish scholars realized at the time that in the last analysis gold was of no greater value that sand. Realizing this fact, it was easy to look either with scorn or pity upon people who spent their earthly lives and even acted criminally just to obtain gold. The lust for gold was the supreme idiocy.
Understanding the inevitable worthlessness of gold is true wisdom.
For its second reading, the church presents a section from the Epistle to the Hebrews. Drawing upon the ancient Jewish notion of material wealth, the epistle declares that knowing what God has revealed, and living accordingly, represent the greatest wisdom.
St. Mark’s Gospel furnishes the last reading. Asked what is essential to possessing eternal life, Jesus answered that the person truly wishing to have life must obey the Ten Commandments, the great gift of God to the people of Israel through Moses.
Questioned further, Jesus replied that a person must disregard their personal thirst for material things, a thirst so strong among humans, and in turn give to the poor.
The man asking the questions could not personally accept this last admonition. Greatly disappointed, he turned and walked away from Jesus. He could not remove himself from the belongings he had acquired.
This weekend’s reading is very familiar to Christians. It is the story of “rich young man.”
This man, obviously a person of means, is a sad figure. Obviously, he felt the impulse to follow God’s plan. He asked Jesus what was required for salvation. He was unwilling to give his riches to the poor, as Jesus counselled, but he was sad in this decision. Holding onto his wealth brought him no joy or peace of mind.
Reflection
The French Navy, over the years, has named four warships the “Richelieu,” surely the only vessels of warfare named to honor a Catholic cardinal!
Each ship honored one of the most famous figures in French history, Cardinal Armand Jean de Plessis, Duc de Richelieu (1585-1642), not remembered for his religious piety but for his skill as a politician and statesman.
For many years prime minister to French King Louis XIII, the cardinal made France mighty, glorious and rich. He himself was one of the most powerful people on earth.
Finally he neared death. He supposedly said, “If I had exchanged my cardinal’s red for the Carthusian white (habit), my palace for a (monastic) cell, I would not be afraid to die.”
The coming of death opened his eyes. He saw what truly mattered.
Cardinal Richelieu was not the only person, mighty in earthly accomplishments, to look back upon life and regret that so much energy was spent on obtaining things and gaining control.
He never was an immoral man. He went through the motions of being a priest and bishop. He never denied any church teaching. His goals, however, were askew.
In these readings, the church tells us that being a faithful disciple is everything. It should not be hard for us to be convinced. Look at the rich and powerful, dry and hopeless at death, and then look at the joy of the dying faithful.
