Don't let your possession, possess you. Put Christ first in your life! Homily, 2018

What must I do to inherit eternal life? That’s the question the man asked Jesus in the Gospel today.   Jesus’ responded very directly: Sell all you have and give to the poor and then follow me.  Did that answer make any of you a little uncomfortable? It did make me feel a bit uncomfortable.  I’ve been blessed with a nice house, cars, and money saved up for retirement and college for my son.   Is Jesus asking us to give up all that we have in order to follow him?

The man in the story was very sincere in his question to Jesus.  He diligently followed the commandments from a young age. Jesus sensed his sincerity and lovingly invited him to be one of his disciples by giving up all that had.  Jesus knew man lacked one thing: making Jesus the top priority in his life.  The man’s possessions were his highest priority.  Jesus wanted him to be free of them, so he could inherit eternal life.  Unfortunately, the man’s possessions were too important, and he went away sad.  His possessions, possessed him.

Do we need to take Jesus words literally?   Do we need to sell all we have and give to the poor?   Some of us may be called to that, but for most, we have to consider the responsibilities we for our families.  We need to earn a living and own some things for our families well-being and also dedicate some resources to help the poor.   Some of us may own businesses and need resources to provide goods, services, and employment that helps others. If we’ve been blessed with abundant resources it’s ok, as long as have the wisdom to put some of them to good use to help others.  So having possessions can be a good thing, as long as they don’t possess us. But we need to ask: are there things in our lives that possess us that keep us from following Jesus?  

Our possessions can make it very hard to enter the kingdom of God if they’re first priority in our life.   We can become too reliant on our own resources and feel like we don’t need to depend on God.  If we’re always trying to keep up with Joneses: getting a bigger house, buying a new car, or wearing the latest fashions and we can lose focus on what’s most important: our relationship with God. Our “possessions” can become our “god” and we can be possessed by them.

Jesus tells us that it’s hard to enter the kingdom of God for those who have wealth.   How hard is it? It would easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.   Wow.  This that sounds impossible to do.  I guess none of us will make it into God’s kingdom if we have to rely on our own capabilities.   But Jesus tells us that, “with God all things are possible”.  He’s telling us that if we put God first in our life, IT WILL be possible to enter God’s kingdom. 

The only way we will be able to do this is through God’s grace.  There’s not anything we can do on our own to inherit eternal life.  It’s a gift that only God can give.  We can accept this gift, but we can also reject it. By having a relationship with Jesus and it will open us up to the gift of God’s grace.   

One way to follow Jesus is to simplify our lives.  We have too many distractions in our busy lives. We have a model to follow in living a simpler life and putting God first through our patron St. Francis.  St. Francis lived a life of wealth and luxury in his younger days, but was called to authentically live out the Gospel, by giving up all he had to follow Jesus.    He publicly gave up all of his wealth, family, and even his clothing to show his reliance on God. This allowed him to focus on living out the Gospel, in prayer, worship, and seeing God in his brothers and sisters that he served. Eight centuries later his way of life in living the Gospel continues through thousands of Franciscan religious and laypersons following his simple way of life. 

If we give up what possesses us and follow Jesus what will we get?   We will receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brother and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.   How so? Through our brothers and sisters in Christ, which is all of you here. Through all the churches, schools, hospitals, and charitable ministries throughout the world spreading God’s love.

Jesus added that persecutions are to be expected as well.  We see this in our culture today.  In living as a Christians, we may be being mocked for our beliefs at work or school. For some it could be more serious, such as the many refugees leaving their homes in the Middle East.  But through these trials we need to remember that we’ll receive eternal life in the age to come.

So as we continue, think about what’s possessing you from making Jesus first in your life. Are there things, activities, or habits that come before our relationship with Christ?  If so, why not make a commitment to change.   Don’t walk away sad like the man in the Gospel. Pray for God’s grace to help.   Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ and ask them for support.  If Christ is first in your life, help others to do the same.    As we continue the Mass lets offer thanks to God for grace we receive through the Eucharist to help put Christ first in our life.