Devotional Thoughts for the 6th Sunday after the feast of Holy Cross. 23rd Oct 2011
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 18: 18- 27
Dear and Respected Brethren,
In today’s reading we find a young rich ruler approaching our Lord with an earnest request for an advice or direction to enable him to inherit eternal life. And when he addressed our Lord ‘Good Master’ there came a comment and a question from our Lord, “Why you address me Good Master.
None is good save one that is God.” St. Luke has not mentioned a reply from the certain ruler. Still he confessed that he used to observe all the Commandments. Finally our Lord told him that he had lacked one thing. And asked him to sell what and distribute unto the poor. In the Old Testament we find a similar experience with Abraham, Father of all the faithful. God Almighty asked him to sacrifice his own son, whom he had loved the most. It is needless to tell that Abraham could win the test laid upon him. A similar test is given to the young rich ruler. Lord Jesus asked him to sell all he had and to distribute the money earned through the sale among the poor and needy. Though Jesus had loved the young man and the young man had great appreciation of the type of work undertaken by the Lord, he could not realize what he was asked by our Lord. Though we have meditated this scriptural portion many times, we too are ignorant of the meaning of the order of our Lord. When someone reads or when we read ourselves, we ignore the significance and importance of the meaning of those words.
Many of us do not understand that the Lord had intended the young ruler to forget about the ownership right of the worldly wealth, possessed by him. Our Lord wants us also to leave the ownership of the worldly riches with our Lord God. Can we do accordingly? When Abraham was asked to sacrifice his own son, whom he got after a long waiting, he did think twice. Soon on getting the order, he prepared for execution of God’s order. Abraham was lucky to identify the words and voice of Lord God, where as the modern man utterly fail in identifying the voice and noise of God though God utters to each and every one of us. The modern man forgets the source of all worldly riches. What all riches are handled by man on earth is the gift of God and sole ownership of those riches are vested with Lord God. God is the only one who feeds the poor, needy and downtrodden. If some individuals or organizations come in between, they are the instruments to fulfill the will of God.
Lord Jesus asked the rich ruler to share the riches among the poor and needy. And He is still telling His children to do in the same way. We should not forget the truth that if all the entire Christians across the globe had united together to feed the poor and needy, there would not have poverty and the poor. Feeding mission was one of the most important missions of our Lord’s Public Mission. Still we could do a lot to remove the poverty from the face of the earth. We need the dedication and mind to co-operate.
In the last verse of today’s reading we read, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” The human beings as such are impossible to do many things. That is true. But God only remains in our human bodies and this abiding nature will enable each and every human being to do all things before him or her. By partaking the Holy flesh and blood of our Savior, we all turn to be living in God and with God. In such a condition it will be easy and convenient for all of us to do all our missions and assignments. We often hear from our surroundings. “After all I am not Jesus Christ to forgive him or her.” Or “how can love a friend of mine who once had cheated me”. While living in Lord Jesus, we all could love others as our Lord loved and still loves, we could forgive others as He forgives daily, we could pray for others etc. Let us pray for the fullness of Holy Spirit in us day by day.
May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.