for August 17
Monday of the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time

The first reading shows the prophet Ezekiel performing another symbolic action, or in this case the lack of one. His wife, the delight of his eyes, dies but the Lord directs him not to perform any traditional mourning practices. When the people inquire what this means, the Lord’s message is that the delight of their eyes, namely the temple in Jerusalem, will be destroyed and with loss of lives as well. Then they like Ezekiel are not to engage in any mourning practices because unlike Ezekiel they in some sense will deserve what happens because of their sinfulness. Or as the psalm refrain put it: You have forgotten God.

In the gospel a young man, presumably with his future before him, asks what good he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus first refocuses him on the One who is good, namely God, and then tells him to keep the commandments to which the young man, surprisingly to me, says which ones? Jesus mentions the ones dealing with human relationships, summarized with an expression he uses elsewhere as loving your neighbor as yourself. If you wonder about the other commandments dealing with our relationship with God, John Calvin had a good answer when commenting on this incident. If your action is right (commandments four through ten), that proves your religion is right (commandments one through three).

The young man claims to have observed all the commandments Jesus mentioned, surely a good sign, and inquires further about what is lacking. Presumably Jesus is impressed and tells him that to be perfect he needs to sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor, going way beyond his perhaps usual practice of almsgiving. Then he can come and follow Jesus and become a disciple. One author defines such perfection as the completeness of wholehearted obedience to Jesus.

The young man we are told went away sad because he had many possessions. I wonder if he knew the following passage from the Book of Sirach written about two centuries earlier. Perhaps Jesus did. The lover of gold will not be free from sin, for he who pursues wealth is led astray by it. Many have been ensnared by gold, though destruction lay before their eyes. It is a stumbling block to those who are avid for it, a snare for every fool.

 A couple clarifications may be helpful. The young man was asking about eternal life; the challenge to be perfect goes beyond that. Nor need every follower of Jesus sell his or her possessions. John Calvin concludes: Our Lord is not proclaiming a general statement that is applicable to everyone. On the other hand, it has been applicable to and welcomed by the many women and men over the centuries who have entered religious life. Let us close with a prayer for an increase in such vocations.

Holy Father, who, though urging all the faithful to perfect charity, never cease to prompt many to follow more closely in the footsteps of your Son, grant an increase in those you have chosen for this special calling who, by their way of life, show to the Church and the world a clear sign of your kingdom.
—Edward O’Donnell SJ

Today’s readings can be found at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’  website.