What If
In the reading from Wisdom, wisdom is given human characteristics. I also noticed that wisdom is female in nature. I think that is a good choice. Men tend to act without thinking or planning whereas women spend a little more time thinking about what they plan to do and how that might impact others. It is not to say women are smarter than men or men smarter than women, just that we are made differently yet are equal in the eyes of God. Another reason that the vocation of marriage is so important.
Wisdom is present in the gospel today as Jesus answers the questions of the young man. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” We all want to know the answer to that question. What I see in Jesus’ response is that Jesus tells him to keep the commandments of how to properly and morally act. Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not defraud, or bear false witness, and honor your father and mother. I think we could say anyone who wishes to live a good life would do well not to fall into these sins. We might even be able to say someone without any belief in God would live a good life by avoiding these sins. Even today some of might be thinking that you have not committed one or two of these sins. So, I would say well done. But then I am not the judge am I?
Why did Jesus not say anything about there being only one God, or not taking the Lord’s name in vain, or to keep holy the Lord’s Day. The clue is first Jesus loved the young man. In other words, Jesus could read what was in the young man’s heart. Perhaps this young man had obeyed the commandments Jesus listed. In true fatherly fashion Jesus confirmed the good the young man done. What Jesus knew was the young man had many gods in his life. And the young man did not always have his priorities in the right order, that is beginning with God. Jesus challenged the young man to sell what was important to the young man and then come and follow Jesus. The young man could not accept the challenge Jesus offered and he left with great sadness. What if the young man would have accepted Jesus’ teaching?
If he had followed Jesus, would the young man have been at the last supper? If he given up everything, would the young man have been at the foot of cross with John and Mary? If he had listened to Jesus would the young man have heard Jesus’ words in the upper room, “Peace be with you.” Would he have been with the disciples looking up to heaven as Jesus ascended to the Father? Would the young man have been one of the disciples sent to proclaim the good news to the world baptizing in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Does what if apply to you? Jesus did not say the wealthy would have a hard time entering the kingdom of heaven, He said those with wealth have the hard time. What wealth is keeping you from following Jesus? What if you gave it away and followed Jesus? What if?
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen