6th Sunday after the feast of the exaltation of the H. Cross

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Devotional Thoughts for 6th Sunday after the feast of the exaltation of the H. Cross - 26th Oct 08

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 18 18-27

Dear and Respected Brethren,

The audience granted by our Lord to a certain ruler during our Lord's Public Mission is the topic of today's reading. The certain ruler is introduced to us by St. Luke and also by St. Matthew (19: 15) as the one who approached our Lord to seek the answer for his personal query. He wanted to know what he had to do to inherit the eternal life. From the very question we could understand that he was a peculiar man, who wanted to satisfy his own need and he was not bothered about anything else. It seems that he had come to our Lord for the first time. If he was a regular visitor, he would have heard from our Lord itself what he wanted to know. He was good enough to address our Lord as good Master. Instead of answering the question put forward by the ruler, our Lord asked him, 'Why are you calling me good Master. None is good, other than God". Our Lord was analyzing the depth of the faith of the ruler where our Lord wanted to make sure that the ruler had the knowledge that Himself is really God. And God alone could guide an individual to the everlasting or eternal life. The ruler's reply (if there was any) is not seen in the Holy Scripture. Again our Lord asked him about the commandments and reminded him the seriousness required to observe them. Immediately the ruler opened his mouth and said "I am observing the commandments from my childhood".

The same will be the answer from many of us, if a question is to be answered on our spirituality. We all might say from 'my childhood, I am attending the Church and the spiritual organizations' etc. When our Lord looked at the ruler, retorted, "You lack one thing". We all will have to appreciate the ruler as he had only one shortage, when our Lord God examined him. If we all were there, how many shortages and lacking would have been found by our Lord? Each and every one of us is sure about our own lacking. But are we bothered about them? Or are we carrying the meaningless weight on our heads and following Christ and His Church with the aim to obtain the eternal life? Let us examine ourselves and throw away our useless weights. Let us follow Him freely with free hands and mind. Unless and until we remove our 'burdens', which are not required in His presence, we cannot stay near Him and be in Him.

What was the shortage of the ruler? I have heard many saying that the ruler had too much wealth and that was the problem. Our Lord was not against in having too much wealth. But He wanted the ruler as well as all the mankind to utilize the wealth held by us, whether it is less or more, for the satisfaction of the less fortunate also. That is why our Lord advised the ruler to sell all that you have and distribute them among the poor and needy. In the act of selling, the ownership right is transferred from the seller to the buyer. Our Lord might have longed for such a transfer only. When I may consider all the wealth held by me as my own, I might not distribute a share even among the poor or the needy. But if I keep a feeling and faith that all that is held by me is belonging to God Almighty, and I am only a caretaker, I will give priority to care the wish and will of the real owner.

In verse 22 we listen to our Lord's advice to distribute the wealth among the poor. In addition to this our Lord offers that in such a case, we all would have treasures in heaven. "And thou shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me". This is a great lesson for each and every one of us. We all are struggling to accumulate personal wealth and holdings. But if we are trying to make everything as our own, we are mistaken. Let all our savings be the gift of God. If you and I have no right on the wealth held by us, it won't be a problem to donate at the right time for the right cause. We must get rid of the selfish desires and interests. When we might give over importance to our wealth and earnings, we would not be in a position to nourish our spirituality. We all must think whether we are worthy to be addressed as Christians. Let us find out ourselves the draw backs and let us sincerely attempt to remove all the obstacles in our way to our Lord and Savior. Let us go near Him who is always longing to be dear and near to us.

In verse 23 it is said that when the ruler heard our Lord's words, he was very sorrowful; for he was very rich. Let us hope that he was sorrowful of not caring the poor and needy around him till then and he might have obeyed our Lord. In verse 24 and 25 we read "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". In olden days in the Middle Eastern tradition, there was a small gate though which people could get in by leaning themselves, on the main gates itself. These doors/gates prevented the entry of the camels into the court yards. And the small doors/gates were known as 'needle's eye' based on its peculiar shape. I have personally seen such gates in the middle east before so many years. Now it is not a problem as the services rendered by Camels are rendered by the most modern and luxurious vehicles. We had such 'needle's eye' doors on the main door on the western side of the old Churches. Still now there is such a door on the entrance gate of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Such doors were meant for the entry of all faithful in perfect discipline and faith leaving away his/her own feelings and bowing in respect before Lord God Almighty. Unfortunately we don't have such doors at the moment. Still we are supposed to enter the Church with humbleness and prayer "in reverence, will I enter thy house to offer my vows to thee".

May God bless us all

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.
Abu Dhabi