The End of Prosperity

Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-11
St. Mark 10:17-30

The Fellowship of St Columbanus took last week off while Carrie and I were on retreat at Downside Abbey, Francois was on retreat at Pluscarden Abbey, and Evan was on vacation in Helsinki. After we are able to have a chapter meeting, we will have some news to share from our retreat.

Chinese depiction of Christ and the Rich
Young Man: Beijing, 1879.

Today's Gospel is the oft-told story of the rich young ruler, a cautionary tale of the lure of wealth. This is how we typically use this story in sermons and devotion, and it is particularly important in our materialistic age of the Prosperity Gospel. Reading today's Gospel I was reminded of the daily lessons over the past week from I Timothy:

Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. (I Tim. 6:6-9, NJB)
The point St. Paul is making is that the "great profits" of Religion do not take the shape of ordinary profits. And getting them does not involve profiteering. Rather, these profits take the shape of the topsy-turvy Kingdom of God, where "the last shall be first and the first shall be last" (St. Mark 10:31).

However, there is another, more neglected point in this Gospel text, and the reading from Wisdom draws our attention to it:
I esteemed [wisdom] more than sceptres and thrones;
compared with her, I held riches as nothing.
I reckoned no priceless stone to be her peer,
for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand,
and beside her silver ranks as mud. (Wis. 7:8-9, NJB)
 It is particularly important for us in the modern world to be reminded that wealth is not a goal, and that it can get in the way of the Gospel. But more important than what we should give up is the reason we should give it up. The Good News of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Christ is valuable far beyond all of our petty wealth. The rich young ruler does not understand the exchange rate when Jesus instructs him to give away all of his wealth in order to "follow me."

St. Paul gives poetic expression to this fact in Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (AV) As much as wealth is not a proper end unto itself, neither is giving up wealth. The end is to follow Christ and to establish His kingdom by proclaiming liberty to the captives and forgiveness of sins. Without this giving up all the wealth and power in the world is in vain.

Seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness. Then all these things will be added unto you. (St. Matt. 6:33)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Leper of Christ: Reflection on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 I Corinthians 10:31-11:1 St. Mark 1:40-45 By: Matthew David Wiseman Leprosy is usually associated with what is called Hansen's Disease, and not without some reason. Both are highly contagious skin infections which have traditionally excluded people from society. However, even a cursory reading of today's lection from Leviticus makes it clear that the biblical leprosy is not the same as Hansen's Disease. There is no deformation of fingers and toes here, and the lesions are rather different from Hansen's. The truth is that there is no clear disease or pathology which these chapters of Leviticus describe. In fact, some Jewish commentators conclude from this that there is no such disease, but rather that leprosy was a special curse from God. Ikon of Christ cleansing the leper All of this only contributes to the strangeness of what is already, for modern readers, a very strange story in St. Mark chapter 1. In our socially conscious, ev
Read more

How good and pleasant it is: the mission of our community

Image
 Dear readers, We have been working on our constitution and canons as we are able for several months now, and while we are still having conversations with trusted advisors and mentors about them, we have decided that it is a good time to publish a draft of our founding principles in order to get feedback. Please note that this document is not final. The purpose of publishing it at this point is to hear more perspectives as we continue to refine our vision. Any insight or wisdom that you have to share with us is appreciated, and we will take it under prayerful consideration. In the name of Christ, The Fellowship of St. Columbanus Constitution and Mission: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps. 133:1) So begins the one hundred and thirty-third psalm in the Authorized Version. It is the purpose of this community to embody this blessing by the communion of lay oblates (and hopefully one day also consecrated members),
Read more

The Resurrection of the Lord - Hail thee, festival Day!

Image
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!  Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!  (Source: Unidentified)  Excerpt from an Easter Oration of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, also known as "the Theologian", Archbishop of Constantinople (329-390 AD) Yesterday the Lamb was slain and the door-posts were anointed (cf. Exodus 12) and Egypt bewailed her firstborn, and the Destroyer passed us over, and the Seal was dreadful and reverend, and we were walled in with the Precious Blood.  To-day we have clean escaped from Egypt and from Pharaoh; and there is none to hinder us from keeping a Feast to the Lord our God—the Feast of our Departure; or from celebrating that Feast, not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (cf. 1 Corinthian 5: 8), carrying with us nothing of ungodly and Egyptian leaven. Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; to-day I am quickened with Him; yeste
Read more