Twenty-eighth Sunday of ORDINARY TIME. 15th October 2000
First: Wis 7:7-11; Second: Heb 4:12-13; Gospel: Mk 10:17-30
THEME of the READINGS
Of the many values that we encounter in human existence, which is the most important, the supreme value? The Book of Wisdom answers this question by stating that wisdom possesses a more precious value than others such as power, wealth, health and beauty (first reading). The encounter with the rich young man allows Jesus to reaffirm the superior value of his following over the goods and riches of this world (Gospel). The authority and effective penetration of the Word of God deserves to be recognized as the supreme value, like God himself (second reading).
DOCTrinal MESSAGE
Values and hierarchy of values. Both individuals and societies are governed by values. In other words, everything we do is based on what we believe to be good, and what objectively is good. Personal values determine a person’s way of being, living and acting, just like social values determine a society’s way of being, acting and living. There are many values, and they affect different areas of human existence (economic, cultural, moral and religious values). Faced with the variety of values, an order or hierarchy must be established. In a true hierarchy, religious values take the first place, followed by moral ones, cultural ones and finally economic values. Any changes to this hierarchy are detrimental to the human person, and ultimately to society. If we place the goods of this world (economic values) above following Christ, our "pockets" will be fuller, to the detriment of the human person and of Christian faith. If fitness and beauty are placed above moral values, society will have great athletes and slim bodies to the detriment of more deeply human values, like justice, honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, and the dignity of the human person. Up to now, we have only looked at values and the hierarchy of values. But mention should also be made of "anti-values". In other words, everything that the individual or society considers to be evil, and actually is evil. The attachment to riches is evil for man, because it prevents him from following Jesus Christ and placing God in his heart.
Characteristics of the supreme value. First of all, the supreme value gives meaning and fullness to all other values. Love for God as a supreme value is not opposed to valuing material goods, or those that have to do with health or beauty. God wants us to have what is necessary to live, he wants us to pay attention to our health and the beauty of our appearance. Seen in this light, material goods are not only economic values, nor are health and beauty purely human values, for they all acquire a fullness that they do not have in themselves: they are part of God’s plan for man. The Word of God and his authority are not in contrast with the authority and words of parents, educators or government leaders. Rather, the Word of God bestows upon them a strength and effectiveness that they do not have in themselves. Second, it is God who enlightens human intelligence to see which is the highest value in a range of values and how these values rank in relation to one another. On our own, without God’s enlightenment, we run the risk of building up mistaken hierarchies. This is why the first reading begins precisely in the following way: "And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me." Third, the correct value always ends up rewarding both the individual and society with good fruits. "In her company all good things came to me," we are told in the Book of Wisdom. And Jesus replies to Peter, who represents the Twelve, "In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times as much... now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life."
PASTORal SUGGESTIONS
Wherever your value is, that’s where your heart lies. The values that govern the life of a person or a society are very indicative. This is reason for reflection in the light of our current social environment. In the statistics concerning the interest and values of citizens, what are the values of greatest interest and concern? Among many, it is health; in many others, work. Quite a few are also concerned with the environment. Then comes the everything else. Do we realize that in a correct scale of values these do not come first? On the contrary, such economic and practical values are at the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid. Now, wherever your values are, that’s where your heart lies. In other words, your values are where you’ve placed your entire self (your intelligence, will, emotions and sensitivity). You are worth what your values are worth. If your main value is health, for which you sacrifice all other values, your human and Christian worth will be rather low. If your prevailing value is God, then you elevate yourself to a great human and Christian level which will have repercussions on your moral life, your work, your family and even in the way you look after your health. Let us keep this clear: having God as a supreme value prevents us from despising other values. What’s more, it commands us to value them, care for them, and seek them in an orderly fashion. God as a supreme value is our greatest treasure.
We live by values. The kinds of values that prevail do make a difference on individuals and peoples. This is because values influence the mentality of an individual or a group. Above all, values determine ways of life. You will live according to what your values are. If your predominant values are purely practical, everything that you do will be determined by them, in other words, by good health and a healthy environment. Why do you work? To have the means that allow you to be in good shape. Why do you pray? To ask God to grant you health. Why do you avoid drugs, alcohol and cigarettes? Not because of the moral chaos that they imply, but because they are dangerous to your health. What party do you vote for? For the party that guarantees a better environment and health. Health becomes the pivot around which everything else in life revolves, and for which all other values are sacrificed. What are the values that govern and guide your life? What are the supreme values in your environment (family, parish, community)? What can you do to make religious values increasingly come first in your scale of values and that of your friends, relatives, classmates or colleagues?
Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOB.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)
[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].