How to enter the kingdom of God

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time
August 17, 2010

Today's Readings:
Ezek 28:1-10
Deut 32:39c,26-28,30,35-36
Matt 19:23-30
http://www.usccb.org/nab/081710.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_08_17.mp3

How to enter the kingdom of God

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says, "Only with difficulty can one who is rich enter the kingdom of heaven." Lest we think we're exempt from this warning because we're not wealthy or because, if wealthy, we use church attendance as a guarantee, God gives us today's first reading for an examination of conscience.

He says in those verses: "By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself." YOUR wisdom, YOUR intelligence. What are you rich in (and not necessarily material wealth) by your own doing? What did you achieve in abundance without prayerfully seeking God's approval, guidance and help?

Jesus tells us that we must let go of our attachments to the world so that we can enter fully into the kingdom of God, not just when we die, but now, so that we can experience his unconditional love each moment of every earthly day.

We pile so many worldly (unGodly) attachments upon our backs that we're like camels laden with luggage! None of this baggage can squeeze through the gate into God's kingdom. If we try to hold onto them, WE don't fit through the gate.

We are rich in "doing things my way." In the kingdom of God, everything is done HIS way, which of course is the best way. No "conditional" love can get through, because it's not truly love. The attitude of "if you make me happy, I will approve of you and accept you and be nice to you" is a huge load of trash. It's not love at all.

The garbage that others have thrown at us won't fit either. Nor will the emotional bandages that we use for covering the wounds they inflicted upon us. Jesus has already taken all of our blows upon himself. If we're still wounded by them, it's only because we haven't surrendered to every method of healing that HE knows will heal us.

We can't include the bag of self-righteousness or pride. We don't need it anyway, because Jesus is proud enough of us. We have to drop the bag of low self-esteem, because Jesus shows us our true worth, and it is far greater than we think it is.

Identifying all of our worldly bags so that we can free ourselves from their weight seems impossible. The disciples asked, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus answered, "For you this is impossible, but if you seek God's help, it will become very possible."

It starts with this daily attitude: "Forgive me, Lord, and help me to identify all my bad habits, addictions, unloving ways, and worldly wisdom. With your gentle but persistent help, I will let go of my baggage and live more fully in your kingdom now and be ready for heaven when I die. Increase my desire to get rid of everything that does not belong to you. Amen!"

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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