After Jesus has spoken to us on the rich young man, a student of the law, that completed all the paragraphs, he  is not dishonest, nor a liar, nor  violent, nor an adulterer, He proposes to us today the text that speaks to us on the danger of riches.

Looking at the young man, Jesus found him not far from the Reign of Heaven, therefore, he invited him to sell all and give to the poor: “If you want to be perfect, go sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and thus you will have riches in Heaven. Afterwards, come and follow me.” Therefore the concept that the young man had of riches was different from that of the Master. For Jesus the Law is the line of fraternity, it is the answer to the grateful and generous offering from God. It is shared, it is communion. Therefore, if the goods are not understood as gifts – that they should be shared with the poor – we will not have the right to inherit the Reign of Heaven.

The young man, who already was a faithful observer of the commandments, Jesus made a radical proposal: sell all, distribute money to the poor and follow Him. The young man went away sad, because he was very rich. He did not have the courage to extricate himself from everything and become disciple and adhere to the promise of the building the Kingdom. And Jesus advised on the danger that riches can signify for  the freed and full detachment of the person. Sirach reminds that riches can become a strong obstacle against integrity (cf. Sirach 32:1-11). Certainly, the word of Jesus: “In truth I say to you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And I say unto you: It is much easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:23-24), beyond alerting on the risk that the rich man runs in relation to his salvation, he aludes to the difficulty for the full engagement in the construction of the Reign, that is life for all, in the here and now of our existence.

The Fathers of the Church, from the first century, after the catacombs, explained the reason for the difficulty has to do with our relation wiith God, with ourselves and with others. Those who understand that for the rich man and riches are not a quantity of absolute goods, but a situation in society. Whomever has 10% of the goats of the tribe of primitive farmers is rich; it does not matter that he has fewer assets that we see today.

Riches are a concrete material condition of power. But as with power, it in itself is not bad. The Lord does not condemn the rich nor riches, but advises His disciples of the danger of giving their hearts to riches. In contrast, the attitude of detachment of Pedro and the other apostles is the certain road to enter the Reign of God. The new world that the Son of God reveals to us in His Death and Ressurection, begins a regeneration of the universe, in which all is judged by other criteria.

The grace of God can make rich people profoundly holy. Some examples: Henry II emperor of Germany; Louis IX, king of France; Isabel, queen of Portugal and duchess Edwiges whose revolving fund of helping indebted peasants made her the patron saint of the debtors.

But to be rich is a risk. Risk in our relation with God, exposing two variations of the same temptation: Practical Atheism and Idolatry.

Riches threaten our relationship with ourselves.The goods are our servants, our lives and all around us, for our fulfillment as persons, to God as well. The moment they no longer serve us, but we serve them, the divide begins.

Riches separate us from others, remove us from them. The goods of this world– in themselves – are goods, loving presents from God who wants that all human beings have life and life to the full.

That the truth given by Jesus teaches us to have a heart more detached from Earthly goods and more of the richness of the presence of God, for detachment from earthly goods is a road of sincere humility and trust in Him.

Father Bantu Mendonça

translated from Portuguese