From the Gospel accodring to Matthew 19:16-22

As we mature physically and mentally, our once childlike innocence is gradually replaced by doubts, fear, and anxiety. Yet, there’s also joy to be discovered, personal growth that can boost our confidence, and professional milestones that can fulfill our ambitions. All these can lead to the sweetest rewards for our hard work. However, they can also blind us to the reality that our achievements, the knowledge we acquire, and the material possessions we own aren’t attained by our efforts alone. We tend to become overly proud of ourselves, taking credit for everything we do. But pride was never preached by Jesus, nor by His disciples. Instead, we were taught to be humble.

In today's Gospel, we read about the encounter between Jesus and a rich young man who sought to inherit eternal life. He asked Jesus what he must do to achieve this. Jesus told him to keep the commandments, to which the young man confidently replied that he’d observed them. Yet, he seemed doubtful that this was enough, so he asked if he lacked anything. When Jesus told him to sell what he had and give it to the poor, the young man went away feeling sad.

We can all relate to the rich young man, whether we’re poor or rich. Even the poorest among us might find it difficult to give away what little they have. Some may say, "Jesus only set the standard for the rich to inherit eternal life." To that, I’d like to quote Rev. Fr. Johnny Autida, who said, "Walay datu nga walay kinahanglan ug walay pobre nga walay ikahatag" (There’s no rich person who needs nothing and no poor person who has nothing to give). If we think that only the rich can give, while the poor cannot, then we’re no better than a selfish person afraid to give even the smallest portion of their possessions.

The Gospel teaches us to detach ourselves from worldly possessions. When we place too much value on our wealth and are unwilling to share, even when we’re capable, we’re worshipping our wealth-- that’s idolatry, an offense against the First Commandment of God. When we give, we must GIVE FROM THE HEART, NOT FOR RECOGNITION because we’re meant to be filled with God's goodness and to share that with others. What we have isn’t ours to decide what to do with in the first place.

I know that we all need to secure our lives and futures. We work tirelessly to be comfortable and to enjoy leisure time if possible. Therefore, giving away what we’ve worked so hard for may seem unfair because we seek to reward ourselves for our achievements and take care of our mental health. Yes, we want to take some time off, and Jesus wouldn’t deny that to us, as evidenced when He told His Apostles to retreat to a secluded place after they returned from their mission, must be exhausting. But is our mission in life the same as the Apostles’ or even close to it?

We may have little to nothing to share with those in need. We may keep what little we have for our daily needs. And we may find it extremely difficult to sell everything we have for the benefit of others. Like the rich young man, we seek to inherit eternal life and enter the Kingdom of God, but we feel sad upon learning what it takes. It’s a struggle for each of us and a challenge we can’t refuse if we want to be with God. So, give what you can, not what your fears hold you back from giving, because without God, we can do nothing.

The rich young man
Heinrich Hofmann, "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler", 1889