It is far better to store treasures in heaven!

Today's Gospel reading teaches us a very important lesson in Christianity. You can read it in Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27.

"As [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'

20 He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasures in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 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."

26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, "Then who can be saved?"

27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God. "28 Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." 28 Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother for father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

I'm sure that this passage is worrisome for those who have become very comfortable in this material world. But I have heard enough sermons through the years about this passage... that being rich is not a curse from God but a blessing. How you handle your richness is what God is seeking.

Indeed, Christianity is a very difficult religion, which is why Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I like the teachings of Christianity, it is the Christians that I dislike." Thus if you only looked at this teaching from its basic context, you will certainly assume that all rich people would go to Hell... after all as Jesus said, "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."

While Jesus said this, we know in our hearts that even a camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle. Therefore we ask ourselves... "What was Jesus trying to tell us with this Gospel reading? Well, as we read further on, we know that Jesus pointed out clearly saying, 'For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.' Yes, by now you must have heard that God's gift of faith is a grace for all of us... therefore if you feel that Jesus is inviting you to have a personal relationship, he is exercising his authority to literally do the impossible... to let you pass through the eye of a needle in order to save you.

I'm sure that you must have heard many priests telling us during their homilies or sermons that "We are mere pilgrims of this world" that we are only passing through this earth on our way to eternal life. What Jesus told the rich man 2,000 years ago was to sell his possessions, give them to the poor so he would have treasure in heaven. Now consider this, that rich man in Jesus' time is nothing compared to a rich man today... even to one who is considered to be in the middle class. In Ancient times a man becomes rich if he has so much possessions like many animals or a vineyard.

What Jesus wants us to do is not to be attached with our material wealth. I remember reading a spiritual texted message, which goes, "Why do Angels fly because they have wings? No because they have nothing that would hold them down on earth." What you need is to completely understand that, all the things of this world that you possess, you cannot bring with you.

Look around your house... and ask yourself, what do you think your soul would be bringing to heaven? Indeed it is time to realize that we are only stewards of the properties that we bought or inherited from our parents. That beautiful Rolex watch in your wrist will still be ticking in someone else's wrist long after you've been buried. The only thing that your soul will bring with you when you die is your Trust in Jesus and nothing else!

Please read Matt. 17: 26 and make sure you memorize this passage. "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?" When you already gained wealth on this earth... what more can you gain? I say that it is far better to gain treasures in heaven because that's where all of us are going.

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