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Connections...
October 15, 2000
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:17-30
And how do I make out the check?
One Sunday morning, the parish's religious education director was making the fall appeal for volunteer teachers for the coming school year. Many parents listened politely to her appeal for adults to share their faith with the children of the parish, of the call each one of us received in baptism to be ministers of the Word, of the great gift each one of us has to share of how God is present in each of our lives. At the end of Mass, many congratulated the religious education director on her presentation. "What you said was so important. We want good teachers for our children. But, given our schedules, we couldn't possibly teach. But could we write a check to help you with your work?"
Every year charities host golf tournaments, dinners and benefits on behalf of all kinds of worthy causes in medicine, education and the arts. Wanting to be perceived as "good neighbors" and "socially responsible" - especially when compared to their competitors--companies will write sizeable checks (all tax deductible-- of course) for the cause. But it's more business and public relations than compassion; the designated charity is a line item on the tax form, not a human being whose life has been touched and changed.
We fear for our children. We want to protect them from the scourge of drugs, alcohol, sex and violence. We want them to grow up as good and moral human being, educated and mature men and women. And we will happily write a check to any institution, organization or sports league that promises to do that for our children. But it often escapes us that the more profitable investment would be in spending more time ourselves with our kids, strengthening that bond of trust and love that is the ultimate grace in coping with life's dangers and pain.
CONNECTION: In his encounter with the young man, Jesus demands of him what he is not prepared to give. Jesus asks him not just to help the poor but to become poor, to find the treasure of heaven by giving up the treasure of earth. Jesus demands much more than checks we barely think about--he asks anyone who wishes to be his disciples to embrace his spirit of selfishness and servanthood that is the heart of the Gospel.v
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