In some translations, the first part of this passage from St. Matthew is interpreted that
it is impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
But the overall text clearly indicates that the Lord is speaking here by hyperbole, for
he says very clearly further on, for man it is impossible, but for God all things are
possible.
And so our Lord speaks of the difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven,
that is, because often the rich depend upon their own strength.
And their very riches, they trust them more than they trust God.
And so it is also very difficult to acquire a great amount of wealth by obeying the commandments
at the same time.
And so the Lord is very clear in saying this, and indeed he uses a common passage from that
time to indicate it.
It is easier for a camel to pass through the needle's eye than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God.
That is, it is very difficult.
And often the attempt is wrought with failure.
And so our Lord is essentially telling us that we must all trust him more than ourselves
and the things of this world, for he and he alone can deliver us from the kingdom of this
world, that is, the kingdom of Satan, and claim us for the kingdom of God his Father.
And so our confidence must be in Christ and to follow him in all things.
And indeed, he will.
He promised the apostles themselves that if they do this, then they will receive the
eternal rewards of the kingdom of heaven.
But first, our Lord is telling us and alluding to the fact that if we are to follow him,
we must follow him not first to heaven, but first to Calvary in this life.
And so this life is wrought with a life of suffering and sacrifice.
And it is very difficult for the rich to enter into that mystery of suffering and sacrifice,
because the Lord is telling us that if we are to follow him, we must follow him first to
heaven, because they have the means to acquire all things.
And so rather than trusting God to deliver them ultimately from the death that will set
in for all, they trust more in their wealth and what they can buy in matter of the sciences.
Rather than turning to God at those final moments in their lives, they turn to science
in order to have the suffering alleviated, when at a time science can no longer alleviate
human suffering.
And so, let us always and all things turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, asking him if the
endeavor we are embarking on is truly from God, that he may bless it, and if it is not
from God, that he may curse it so that we may abandon it, but never abandon the good
God who guides us and loves us and wants and seeks only our salvation in this life so that
we truly may acquire that which alone can bring joy to the human heart, the true riches
that every man should strive to seek, that is, the eternal beatitude of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ for all eternity in heaven, when we enter into that mystery of the life
of the most holy trinity in a manner which St. Paul very aptly describes as the eye has
not seen, nor the ear heard, nor has it even entered into the heart of man.
In this life, we journey by faith, but in the life to come, we see by vision, and then
we come to know and understand that mystery that St. Paul is alluding to.
And so, let us entrust ourselves entirely to the guidance of our Savior and also recommend
to him all those, especially those specifically mentioned in today's Gospel, that is, the
wealthy.
Those who tend to be the leaders of society and often lead society astray, that is, they
lead them away from Christ and into the very cold, hateful arms of Satan himself.
And so, by our life of prayer, our life of penance, our life of sacrifice, let us be
willing to leave all things, as the Lord says, towards the end of the Gospel, that is, all
things in this life, in order to acquire that which is most important.
That is, to truly acquire all things, because in acquiring in Christ, our quest in this
life has ended, and now we must pray for the grace to persevere in that life we have received
in baptism, that life that is strengthened through the sacramental life of the Church,
that life that was given to us by a free and merciful gift of Almighty God, for none of
us did anything to merit supernation.
It is always and everywhere a free gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and so let
us not be parsimonious with this gift, but let us strive always to exercise it into the
highest degree, that is, by virtue of heroic charity.
And let us always be willing and able to give it to others, especially those whom we see
in most need.
Amen.
Those who count the riches of this world as true riches, and not the riches of grace
received through Holy Mother, the Church.
And so, let us show ourselves good members of the Church, because to be a good member
of the Church is to be a good member of Christ, for there is no separation between Christ
and His body.
And so, we truly have found that safe haven in this life, that safe haven that delivers
us from a false understanding and a false quest of happiness, because it is the haven
in this life that possesses true happiness, because in the Eucharist it possesses the
true God who is faithful to His promise and indeed is with us at this moment and will
be so until the end of time, truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity in His Eucharistic
presence.
And He is there simply to be there.
And so, let us always turn to Him, let us have recourse to Him frequently during the
course of the day, so that at the end of our lives we may not seek to find alleviation
from our suffering and the pains of the death throes, but that we may turn to Him alone
who can deliver us at that moment from the clutches of Satan in order to hand us to God
His Father.
Starting with Batman.
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