What do we have to do to inherit eternal life? That question is asked to Jesus by an unnamed rich man in today’s gospel. As I am writing this reflection Hurricane Milton is spinning in the Gulf of Mexico, bearing down on the West Coast of Florida. Probably as you are reading this, the hurricane has already passed
and has devastated much of Florida.
Today’s Gospel’ is often titled “The Rich Man”’ is quite appropriate in the aftermath of a storm. For the rich man, it seems that he cannot leave his possessions to follow Jesus. I just heard a news story from a local reporter in the Tampa Bay area as she interviewed a driver who was evacuating from the storm on the I-4 Interstate highway. The woman told the reporter that she and her ten-year old daughter were evacuating to Daytona Beach while her husband is staying at the house in St. Petersburg. I thought to
myself, how crazy is this person to want to stay with his property and belongings while his family
evacuates?
Before I became a Deacon and teacher, I was an insurance adjuster for seventeen years. I chased the hurricanes and inspected the damaged properties. I am very aware of the life -threatening possibilities of storm surge. The rich man in the gospel couldn’t leave his property and belongings behind, just like the St. Petersburg man. Property and belongings should never be more important to us than our lives and the lives of our families. The rich man in the Gospel was told that he would have to leave his lifestyle behind, give it all to the poor and follow Jesus in order to inherit eternal life. The rich man couldn’t see the forest through the trees. I don’t think he understood what eternal life meant.
I think it’s part of human nature to become so attached to things. George S. Kaufman, a playwright in the 1930s, is credited with the tag line “you can’t take it with you”. He co-wrote a comedy play that eventually became a movie of the same name starring Jimmy Stewart. But that tag line also applies to the rich man in the gospel and the man who stayed behind to ride out the storm in St. Petersburg. Jesus said the rich man was lacking in one thing… treasure in heaven. He had too much love for his treasure
on earth that he lacked treasure in heaven.
I think hurricane season is a good time for all of us to account for all the things we have on earth, count our blessings and be generous to those in need. Hurricane season is a good time to donate. Whether we are donating a pint of blood after Mass, cleaning out closets and storage units and donating items, there are many ways to donate. Maybe the next time we buy a car, buy a used car or one that is well within our means so that we can give more charitable donations.
Lastly…
We are a very charitable people. Our charitable giving extends far beyond this church. So let’s ask ourselves the Gospel question, “What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” Let’s keep searching for an answer to that question. According to Jesus, the answer sounds simple, but in reality, it’s not that simple. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. (MT10:21).
Let’s not forget the Alleluia verse today; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (MT 5:3)