Homily of the 28th Sunday in ordinary time year B
Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30
It is good to do good, but better to know the essential good. It is good to preserve ourselves in holiness, and better to use our holy state to achieve further good. Holiness is not a slogan, but a lived reality. Wisdom helps us to place things in their rightful places. The wise said, “I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.” Wisdom 7:7-1.
At times, we fret over some nice enterprises, but for lack of proper placement, we do not earn benefits from them. People may give us accolades and applaud our actions, it takes God to judge our true intention and know whether our deeds are meritorious or not. His words will always put us on the scale, judging our unsung intentions.
“The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.” Hebrews 4:12-13.
When the rich man approached Jesus to ask him what he must do to enter the kingdom of heaven, the Lord told him refrain from some sins. He was happy because he had been keeping himself off those sins since he was young. But he was saddened when the Lord said, “Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” This man walked away from Jesus, because he had great possession.
Hence, when we rejoice and celebrate what we do rightly, we should always pray for wisdom to know which part of our lives needs amendment. May wisdom always be our guide. Amen.
