Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest friends,
๐๐ผ Since Jesus Christ said that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (cf. Mk 10:23), should poverty be embraced then as a better option? Let us patiently go through this:
If we really want to enter the Kingdom of God, we must love God. We show that we love God by obeying his COMMANDMENTS for Christ says โIf you love me, OBEY my Commandments” (cf. CCC n. 2083, 14:15, Lk 10:25f). Indeed, obedience to the commandments of the Lord offers Wisdom and the law of the Lord means more than all the money in the world (cf. Ps 119:72,104).
Unfortunately, today, a number of Christians think that the commandments of God are things of the past which are no longer relevant. Beloved friends, it is not so. The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are OBLIGATORY for Christians and that the the justified man is still bound to keep them (cf. Denzinger-Schรถnmetzer, 1569-1570, CCC 2068). The Ten Commandments are fundamentally immutable, and they oblige always and everywhere. No one can dispense from them (cf. CCC n. 2072).
It is true that at times, it is very difficult to keep some of the Commandments but this difficulty should not be taken as impossibility because โwhat God commands he makes possible by his grace” (cf. CCC no 2082). It is therefore left for us to always ask for the GRACE to obey they. Also, the Ten Commandments are deeper than mere listing of them. Try and read them up in the Bible and in any of the catechism texts (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 2084-2557, Exod 20:1-17).
๐๐ผNow, the rich are not in any way called to reject riches neither are the poor encouraged to rejoice in poverty by what Jesus said thus: โHow hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God” (cf. Mk 10:23). However, the rich are simply called to assume RESPONSIBILITY with their God-given riches. They are equally invited to live a life of โHOLY INDIFFERENCE‘; that is, detaching themselves from their riches, such that they are always ready to put their riches at the service of others and ever ready to let go (cf. Spiritual Exercise of St. Ignatius of Loyola, 23d, Gaudete et Exaultate n. 69). In summary, โDETACHMENT from RICHES is necessary for entering the Kingdom of heaven. โBlessed are the poor in spirit”” (cf. CCC no 2556); because โwhere your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (cf. Mt 6:21, CCC no 2551). Indeed, we need WISDOM, if we must use RICHES well. Please, aways pray for it (cf. Wisdom 9:1-11). Remember, whatever we have (talent, treasure and other endowments) are God’s gifts (cf. Js 1:17) and he expects that we put these gifts out for the benefit of all.
We pray the Virgin Mary to always assist us in our struggles with the demands of our faith๐๐ผ
Remain blessed๐๐ผ
