Matthew 19:23-30

Judges 6:11-24a

Psalm 85:9, 11-12, 13-14

Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich

to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Again I say to you,

it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,

“Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said,

“For men this is impossible,

but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said to him in reply,

“We have given up everything and followed you.

What will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you

that you who have followed me, in the new age,

when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,

will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters

or father or mother or children or lands

for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,

and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to inherit eternal life. I want to follow your Son in this new age that he has inaugurated. I know that all things are possible for you. Grant me a meek and humble heart so that I may serve your Kingdom and your people.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Entering the Kingdom of God: Today’s Gospel follows the story of the rich, young man, who went away sad because he was unwilling to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Jesus on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus uses the opportunity to teach his disciples about the path that leads to entry into the Kingdom of heaven. Earthly riches, Jesus teaches, make entry into the Kingdom difficult, but not impossible. Why is this so? Having abundant earthly wealth tends to make one less reliant upon God’s providential care, less prayerful, and more self-reliant. Jesus’ disciples were taken aback at this teaching because they tended to equate the blessing of earthly wealth with divine blessing. Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and the New Covenant reverses this: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” The Old Covenant curse – poverty – is transformed into the path of New Covenant blessing.

2. Inheriting Eternal Life: In answering the disciples’ question about who will be saved, Jesus first begins by emphasizing the priority of God’s help. It is impossible for us to save ourselves. We do not have the power, on our own, to attain eternal salvation. But God is capable of empowering us to attain eternal life. This is what grace and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity do. Jesus comforts his apostles and lets them know that those who have given up everything to follow him will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. This is their role as apostles and overseers (bishops). They are to govern with the authority given to them by Christ. And then Jesus speaks about everyone else who gives up earthly things to follow him. They will inherit eternal life. Through Baptism, we become adopted children of God and thus heirs of eternal life. Divine life begins in us, grows, and reaches its glorious consummation. Those who are first in this world – those attached to their earthly wealth, power, and positions in society – will be last in the age to come. Those who are considered last in this world – the meek, the humble, the poor, those who serve – will be first in the age to come.

3. The Rise and Fall of Gideon: The Book of Judges narrates the stories of twelve judges of Israel, from the death of Joshua to the coronation of King Saul. Joshua did not appoint a leader of Israel before he died, and the conquest of the Promised Land remained unfinished. God raised up the judge Gideon to combat the Midianites. Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when the Lord called him. Gideon, like Moses before him, was hesitant to deliver the people of Israel. Like Moses, Gideon claimed to be too humble to accomplish the Lord’s work. “And yet, as with Moses, it is precisely the weak that God raises up – to show forth his glory. As with Moses, God gives Gideon signs as proof that he is with him. Fire consumes Gideon’s sacrifice, and the fleece left on the ground is dry, although the ground around it is wet with the morning dew. Gideon gathers an army to fight the Midianites, but the Lord repeatedly asks Gideon to reduce his numbers so that it will be clear that the victory is the Lord’s. Even so, after the stunning triumph over Midian, the men of Israel came to Gideon and asked him and his descendants to rule over them as king, ascribing the victory to Gideon, not God. Gideon wisely declines the royal position, but then gets greedy.” (Cavins and Gray, Walking with God, 136). He demanded gold, made for himself a priestly garment, and led the people of Israel into apostasy. Thus, the story of Gideon is a tragic one. Instead of leading the people to the Lord, he led them to play the harlot (Judges 8:27). When the Bible narrates Gideon’s death, it says that Israel went after the Amorite gods. Gideon’s greed and apostasy led the people to forget the Lord and how the Lord rescued them.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me to be meek and humble of heart like you. I am tempted to exalt myself in pride, but I know that that is not the right path. The way of humility is the way of truth. Help me to see myself as I truly am – as a child of God and as a servant of others.

Living the Word of God: Am I rich and haughty or poor and humble? Do I trust in my wealth or in God, my savior? Am I detached from material things, or do I spend most of my time thinking about what I have? How can I change things to follow Christ more closely?