How to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God appeared to Solomon in a dream shortly after he was anointed King of Israel just before his father David died.  God said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’  Solomon replied, ‘Give me a heart to understand how to govern your people, and how to discern good from evil.’  Yahweh responded that since you asked for this and not a long life or riches I will give you a heart wise and shrewd as no one has had before, as well as riches and a long life.  What do you and I ask for often, wisdom, or something more material?

The rich man in the Gospel last week (Mk 10:17-30) did not have much wisdom and thought highly of himself.  Jesus reveals to anyone who will listen how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and he has two surprises.  One is that children will gladly enter the Kingdom which is startling since they were not valued in ancient times.  Little girls were often left to die on the streets.  And the wealthy, who were thought to be blessed by God, will find it difficult to enter the Kingdom.  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom.  The disciples, Mark says several times, are shocked by this.

Jesus is saying that those who love their riches will find it very difficult to enter heaven. It does not matter how many riches he has but that he loves them before God, is absorbed by them, and dreams of them.  He cannot be free of them, and due to this he goes away sad.  It could also be true of one who has little and only thinks of having more.

St. Augustine says something very beautiful about the challenge made to the young man: “I love this total devotion that the Lord asks of the young man when he says go sell what you have and give to the poor.  I have so loved it that indeed I acted upon it, with the help of God.”  It is not an easy thing to do, to give up what you own or what you desire to own. St. Augustine says it is only possible with the help of God.

Is there one belonging or one account that you own that could help you to put God first maybe for the first time in your life? Give it away.  God does not want you to live in the streets, but to be free of your love of money.  Do you want to destroy a child’s imagination then give him/her gadgets (iPhones, iPad’s, etc.) and never let him/her out of the house and you will have reached your goal.

The reward that Peter dares to ask for is one hundred fold in this life.  It follows what we heard last week about marriage being a unity of two people that no one can dissolve, and is a vocation, a way to heaven.  And for those who give up wife, family, children and their very lives, receive many times more than what they gave, including persecutions.  This is certainly true in my life.  How can I compare the life I have led to what I would have done on my own stupid plans?

The real challenge of the Gospel is: ‘come and follow me,’ and the rich man wanted to do both, follow Him and pursue the world, which is impossible.  Love of wealth will make it very difficult to receive God’s love, and enter the Kingdom.  Jesus says this twice, reminding you and me of the challenge that he places before us.

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