A Matter of Priorities

The Gospel reading for today’s Daily Office is taken from Matthew; he writes:

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; also, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’  Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.  (Mt. 19:13-22).

Today’s passage speaks to us about priorities.  It is no mistake that this passage starts out with the children.  Anyone who has been around children knows that they are content to play with whatever they have.  The lids of pots and pans work just as well as toy cars and dolls.  They do not need things.

What do we hold precious?  What can we not do without? What are we attached to?  Jesus knew the heart and soul of this person. Jesus knew that this person kept the Ten Commandments. He was by all accounts a good person.  The word translated as “perfect” is the Greek word “τέλειός” (teleios) which means “having reached its end, complete.”  So, Jesus says, “If you desire to be complete, sell your possessions.” We do things in faith and by faith.  The young man lacked faith in God; rather, he put his faith in his possessions.  His things were important to him, and he could not give them up, so he went away grieving.  Instead of becoming complete, he patched the hole in his soul with things.

What, or perhaps, who, is important to us?  Do you and I walk away grieving?

Let us pray:  O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of things, that we, inspired by the example of your Son, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

INSTALLATION OF THE RECTOR AT TRINITY: Sunday, 1 July at 5 p.m.

SUMMER ART PROGRAM: Please pick up a flier and registration sheet in the narthex of the Church.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Donna Greene (Carol Hogan’s cousin) who is fighting cancer, and Steve Poirier who is approaching death.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550