INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 20th Monday in
Ordinary Time is, “Possessions.”
The word is used at the end of today’s gospel, “When the
young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
The Greek word used is, “KTEMA” and it’s translated into
English as “possessions”.
ETERNAL LIFE
This story in today’s gospel - Matthew 19: 16-22 - is also in Mark
10: 17-22 and Luke 18: 18-23.
It’s worth reading all three versions for insights - as well as commentaries on
the story in each gospel.
William Barclay in his commentary on Matthew 19: 16-22 - (Vol. 2) points out there is another account of
this story in the Gospel according to the
Hebrews. This is a document from perhaps a Christian Cult - and we only
have fragments from this document. In this account - the commandment to love
our neighbor is connected to giving our possessions to the poor.
In today’s gospel he’s young and rich. He wants to
possess the secret of life. Better “eternal life” - forever life - the whole
deal.
Jesus says the secret is to keep the commandments.
He asks, “Which ones?”
Jesus gives him 6: “Don’t kill. Don’t commit adultery.
Don’t steal. Don’t bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother. Love
your neighbor as yourself.”
He says that he’s already doing those 6 - and so he asks
Jesus, “What’s lacking? What else should I be doing?”
“Okay,” Jesus says, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell
what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”
Once more the end of the story according to Matthew:
”When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many
possessions.”
SAD-GLAD -
HAPPY FACE -UNHAPPY FACE
Is this young man every man - every woman?
Do we all down deep have this same basic question?
What’s the secret of life? What is the secret of inner
peace? What is the secret of being glad - not sad? What is the secret of having
a happy face, a happy soul?
LETTING GO
In this gospel text, a good message for today is “letting
go”.
One of the great secrets of happiness is letting go.
“Let it go!”
How many times have we heard that?
Stuff stuffs us.
Possessions possess us.
Letting go - lets us go to a new level, a new place, a
new space.
I like to recommend to people the fist to open hand
prayer.
Just sit there at red lights - or TV commercials - or
sermons you don’t get - or waiting in doctor’s offices - simply make a fist and
then open it and throw away what’s in the middle of your fist - what’s
possessing you.
Whatever is bugging you - a daughter who won’t speak to
you - a husband who made a nasty comment - a selfish brother or sister and
you’re stuck taking care of mom and dad - a noisy neighbor in the night with a
Harley Davidson or a piano or a hungry or lonely dog - or music box - whatever.
Or it could be a mistake you made when you were 22 or a
thief that robbed you or whatever - let it go.
This guy in the gospel couldn’t let it go and walked away
sad.
CONCLUSION
I want to conclude with one of my favorite stories. I own
it. I possess it. I heard it years ago and it’s mine. I’m giving it to you today
- so you can own it and share it. You’ll get it - if you haven’t heard it
already.
It goes like this. This is my version of something I’ve
taken from someone.
Once upon a time a
monk was walking down a road.
It was a road that was parallel to a river.
The monk was by himself - that is - till someone caught
up to him.
“Hi there!” a stranger yelled.
The monk turned and the stranger asked the obvious, “Can
I travel along this road with you. I’m alone and it looks like you’re alone as
well.”
The two walked and shared this and that with each other.
At one point, since it was near lunch, the monk asked the
stranger if he was hungry and if he would
want some lunch.
“Sure,” said the stranger.
“Here’s a good spot to stop and go down to the water.
It’s cold and delicious.”
They went down to a nice open spot on the bank of the
river.
The monk opened up his bag and took out a towel and made
an instant picnic spot. He took out some sandwiches, two apples, a banana and
an orange. He also took out a huge
diamond the size of his fist to get some napkins from the bottom of his bag.
The stranger became mesmerized by the diamond. He didn’t
taste his sandwich, the cool water or his apple.
Finally, he said it. “Is that a diamond?”
“Yes, pretty big isn’t it?”
“Is it real.”
“I think so.”
“Where did you get it?”
“Oh, I found it yesterday up stream when I stopped to eat
some lunch.”
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
And the monk said, “Do you want it?”
“What?”
“Do you want it?”
“You’d give that to me, just like that.”
“Yes, here it’s yours.”
After that, the stranger’s mind went crazy. He couldn’t
wait till he could separate himself from the monk.
The monk cleaned up the silverware and the cups they used - in the river - and packed up his bag - and
both got moving up the road.
Now the stranger couldn’t hear anything - only his
planning on what he’d do with the diamond.
Finally they came to a fork in the road.
The stranger had his chance. He asked the monk, “Which
way are you headed.”
The monk pointed to his right and the stranger said, “Oh,
sorry, I’m headed to the left.”
They parted. The stranger said, “Thanks for the sandwich
and the food. Thanks for the good conversation” and he sandwiched in between
both those comments. “Thanks for the diamond.”
The stranger rejoiced - smile.
He headed up the road - as if he hit the lottery.
About ten minutes later he stopped.
He turned.
He ran back to the fork in the road and ran after the
monk till he caught him.
He caught his breath and said, “I have to ask you one
thing. You have something I want and I don’t have.”
He took out the diamond and handed it back to the monk.
The monk said, “Thank you.”
Then the stranger said, “What I would want from you is
the ability to give the diamond to someone - just like that. How could you do
that? I want to be able to do that.”
And smiling, the monk said, “You
got it.”
P.S. I told that story this morning and someone told me
that the story is in one of these small daily reflection book for today - as
well.
Surprise.
