Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab; Matthew 19:23-30
Summary
There are two axioms I want to pin to this reflection as a sort of translation of the story.
(1) I am a self-made man (in its extreme: I am a God).
(2) The Rich man is anyone who has more than me.
In our first reading today, the prince of Tyre is the self-made man. At least in his eyes. Ezekiel has none of it. The NABRE commentary on this reading says:
Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1).
In our responsorial, taken from the Song of Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses recalls despite all the riches, provisions, and divine care the people received they turned away from the Lord and sought their ‘no god’. The effects caused chaos and ruin. They didn’t realize how rich they really were. Nevertheless, the Lord comes to their aid again:
Surely, the LORD will do justice for his people; on his servants he will have pity. When he sees their strength is gone, and neither bond nor free is left (Dt 32:36).
Reflection
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich So that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Rich, how?
In direct reversal of the two axioms:
(1) I am not a self-made man but a beloved child of God who showers me with blessings.
(2) My riches are ultimately not of cattle and money but love and relationship.
The First Disciples
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us? (Mt 19:27). For Peter and the disciples who gave much, much was given.
For All of Us
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life (Mt 19:29).
Personal Reflection
Rich in what?
The Lord blesses us constantly. We run into trouble when we ascribe our success to our efforts alone. We run into trouble when the Rich is always someone else who has more (as if we are exempt from charity).
Be rich in Jesus.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081826.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry