DOMINUS VOBISCUM!

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples could only marvel at his words. So Jesus repeated what he said: "My sons, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." They were completely overwhelmed at this, and exclaimed to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus fixed his gaze on them and said, "For man, it is impossible but not for God. With God all things are possible." (Mark 10: 23 27)

The preceding gospel narrative from Mark was a discourse of the Rabbi with His disciples immediately after an apparently good mannered and respectable rich man in front of their very eyes decided to stick with his wealth than to follow OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Son of Man emphatically uttered, not once but twice, the difficulty that the rich will encounter in its path towards the kingdom of GOD. Nevertheless, it does not necessarily mean that the rich cannot enter the kingdom of GOD. They can with difficulty because of their heavy burden and the load of impediment along the journey.

Wealth or riches is a terrestrial good. It is a lifeless asset of some terrestrial persons that they can utilize exclusively in this terrestrial world for whatever purpose as it pleases them. Wealth connotes terrestrial power. It can buy anything terrestrial including the human person. However, it definitely has no value in heaven. It is the least concern of the Son of Man when He visited this world.

From a strictly Scriptural perspective, it must not be forgotten that this earth is where the dragon and its horde of demons were hurled down upon their conquest and humiliation by Michael and the loyal subjects of GOD. (Revelation 12: 9-12) Likewise, it was the same earth where Adam and Eve who listened to the serpent were sent to cultivate until they have served their death sentence. It is very clear then from Sacred Scriptures that the terrestrial world is the kingdom of the Damned and those who listened to the Damned. It is not the kingdom of the Holy One who imposed the damnation. It can be understood then that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST does not want to involve Himself in anything terrestrial at the moment of His visitation. He came down on this penal colony to free the human person from this terrestrial and diabolic bondage. He came down on this miserable world not to dip His fingers

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Christianity and the question of "riches"?
We want to hear your view. Write now!