READINGS FOR THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B, 13TH OCTOBER, 2024.
(PRISIONER’S SUNDAY).
First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11
Psalm: 89
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13
Gospel: Mark 10:17-30
REFLECTION BY FR. CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM.
FINDING MEANING IN SERVING THE POOR
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A sincere welcome to the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Today is called Prisoners’ Sunday. As we pray for prisoners, we are reminded that Life is a mystery. Our human existence is a mystery. Life is full of challenges that require endless interpretations and explanations. We are prone to ask probing questions and sometimes – endless questions of meaning. It is against this background that my reflection today focuses on finding meaning in serving the poor.
The search for meaning has produced many philosophical, scientific, theological, and metaphysical speculations throughout history. In general, the word “meaning” denoted that which is intended to be or actually is expressed. Meaning indicates significance, message, explanation, substance, value, purpose, sense and interpretation.
With the current realities of our world, we continue to ask some pertinent questions: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? What is life all about? What is the purpose of existence? What is the meaning of life after death? Can we find meaning and value in life by following Jesus in serving the poor? Why do we follow Jesus in serving the poor? What keeps us going as Christians?
Answers to these questions have been expressed from different religious, cultural, ideological sociological and existential perspectives. In other words, different religions, people and cultures believe different things for the answers to these questions.
For the purpose of today’s reflection, we shall examine the religious perspectives on the meaning of life. We shall examine those ideologies that explain life in terms of an implicit purpose not defined by humans.
Life’s purpose in Christianity is to seek divine salvation through the grace of God and intercession of Christ. (John 11:26). The New Testament speaks of God wanting to have a relationship with humans both in this life and the life to come. This can happen only if one’s sins are forgiven. (John 3:16–21; 2 Peter 3:9).
In the Christian view, humankind was made in the image of God. Christ’s passion, death and resurrection provide the means for transcending our impure state and weaknesses. (Romans 6:23). Jesus has shown us that the purpose of life is to elevate our compassionate response to human suffering. As Christians, we are justified by belief in the sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross. This is Good News for us.
God is good. God wants us to be good. That was why he created us in his image and likeness. God promised good things for us in heaven through His Son, Jesus Christ. He promised to be good to us until the end of time. Richness is God’s gift to each of us. The actual wealth in this life is Wisdom. It helps us to know what is good and how to use well what God has blessed us with. We can receive Wisdom by asking God for it in prayer.
Our First Reading today says, “I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.” (Wisdom 7:7-11).
These statements explain why Jesus instructed the rich man in our Gospel to, “Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ (Mark 10:17-27). The rich man was sad when he heard this instruction because he loved wealth more than wisdom. He never realised that wisdom is priceless and real treasure. In wisdom, all good things came to us, at her hands riches not to be numbered. (Wisdom 7:7-11).
This justifies Jesus’ response when Peter asked him, what about us? “We have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said to him, “I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land, not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:28-30).
We need Wisdom to find meaning in serving the poor. Jesus is Wisdom Incarnate. If we put following Jesus in serving the poor ahead of everything else, we receive everything else along with Him. Jesus transforms our lives with the values of His message that gives purpose to the realities of our existence. We need Wisdom to understand this message.
Like Solomon, we are called to choose Wisdom before everything else. When Solomon accepted Wisdom, he received everything else along with it. Wisdom leads us to charity that transcends justice. In serving the poor, we find Jesus Christ. He gives meaning to our lives.
May the Holy Spirit teach us to understand that God is at the centre of all our existential challenges, in some mysterious ways. May God also help us to make proper judgments and choices in our lives that we may live with Him forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.