Father Andrzej Wyrostek
Homily from the Televised Mass, NewsCenter1
The 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 22, 2024

My dear friends, a quick look at our daily life can quickly give us a good perspective on a contrast between noble ideas, a life filled with lack of integrity, lies and selfish desires. In a world full of advertisements and consumerism where the media are constantly convincing us of our need for more. We hear that in order to be happier we need to own more, buy new things. And a question arises in our mind of the meaning of our freedom, or our role, in ruling over the world or our own environment. How to find ourselves in response to the ideas that promote immediate but temporal happiness in this world, a world that is so ready to question the old and unchanging moral guidelines and ethics we have come to know through our history. How to survive the desire of self-promotion in a sometimes very self-centered world. 

After his conversation with the young rich man, Jesus speaks to his disciples reflecting on the words, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 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.”

Jesus here does not condemn the riches or wealth, but he instructs and warns us to use the riches in such a way as to lead us to eternal salvation. The wealth is to be of an aid not an obstacle to a life in the grace of God. This is a true wisdom, and that is why Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount teaches us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” 

The Gospel poverty is a concern for all the baptized who are called to follow the example of their teacher and redeemer thus becoming a living example of Jesus In today’s world. This attitude shows that we are serious on our way of mature morality and alive in the wisdom of Jesus desiring a full union with God. The commandments and beatitudes not only tell us of what not to do but also what to avoid in our pursuit of union with God. Jesus who became poor for us so that we can become rich. Becomes for us today a vital point of reference and written renewal in our growth in holiness of life. 

To be truly wise, as we read in the first reading, and free in today’s world we need to be able to oppose the desire of temporal happiness of this world. Not to be ruled by it so that we can be free to experience and accept the wisdom of God. To live in his gift of freedom and in values that allow us to discover our true humility — our property of the Gospel. 

We grow stronger in that wisdom as we grow in the understanding of Scripture. As we grow in the celebration of the sacraments and in our ongoing relationship with Jesus, our call to Gospel poverty calls us to humility before God, trust in Jesus, and ongoing discovery of values and moral compass that is above the wisdom of this world. 

My friends, pray for true wealth, a wealth that comes from God. A wealth that aids us in this world to rejoice in the freedom as sons and daughters of God.