He Went Away Sad

"It was then, that a young man approached HIM and asked, 'Master, what good work must I do to receive eternal life?'  JESUS answered, 'Why do you ask ME about what is good?  One, only, is good.  If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.'  The young man said, 'Which commandments?'  JESUS replied, 'Do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother.  And love your neighbor as yourself.'

The young said to HIM, 'I have kept all these commandments.  What do I still lack?'  JESUS answered, 'If you wish to be perfect, go, sell all that you possess, and give the money to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come back and follow ME.'

On hearing this, the young man went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth." - Matthew 19:16-22

(JESUS faces a question.  HE discloses three aspects and gives three answers:

One only is good.  This man has been captivated by the personality of JESUS, and JESUS, as always, directs him to the FATHER.  There is, in fact, a distortion to Christian faith, dangerous as it is subtle: to speak only of JESUS: "JESUS sees you..."  "JESUS loves you..."  "JESUS is love..." as if we were not living for GOD.  Love of the FATHER means wanting to be perfect as the FATHER is and working for HIS kingdom.  First of all it needs to be free, and the rich man can only be free through voluntary poverty.

This man also wanted to know how to receive eternal life [the text says in Hebrew style "to have in heritage"] and JESUS will clearly state at the end, that even if we obey the commandments, we do not "merit" eternal life: salvation is always a gift of GOD.

Finally there is the question that bothers us most for all that touches money affects us deeply, and it is there that the Gospel shocks us: it is easier for a camel... [v. 24].

The call of the rich young man has always been considered the model of the religious, apostolic vocation.  Without effective, voluntary poverty a person will never attain union with GOD that is the goal of the true religious.  Besides, as long as the apostles share the life of comfortable people, they will be able to be their friends but they will never have deep conversions nor will they during this time reach the immense world of the poor.

The problem of poverty is also at the heart of the family in today's world: for the greater number, believers or non-believers, the joys and blessings that GOD showers on a large family will only be given to those who have ceased to evaluate everything according to the criteria of money and security.) 

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