Jesus reveals those committed to Him will be received into Heaven and the uncommitted will not. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by seeking the Virtue Faith so he can always believe in Christ’s Divine Power to make him a saint and by building the Virtue of Duty so he can more perfectly keep his sacred duty to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Liturgy
20th Week in Ordinary time – Tuesday – Mt 19:23-30
Commentary
After the Rich Young Man refuses to follow Him, Jesus sadly laments, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” His jarring imagery clarifies the extreme challenge of entering Heaven and the disciples are greatly astonished and unsure about their own fate.
Panicked by Christ’s revelation of the extreme difficulty of entering Heaven, Peter, voicing the disciples’ concern about their own fate, asks, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus gazes intently at the disciples with a hint of dismay, perhaps in frustration for their unbelief, and replies, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” The Rich Young Man’s “good deeds” strategy can never work, for imperfect men cannot earn the unimaginable riches of Heaven; only with God’s grace, reshaping and elevating man’s nature, can a man be saved.
Having realized the eternal jeopardy of the Rich Young Man’s “no”, Peter asks if the disciples’ “yes” is sufficient for Christ’s Grace. Jesus, having given up the blessings of Heaven in the Incarnation, never asks His disciples to suffer something that He has not suffered and assures them their sacrifices of family, home, and land in His Name will lead to eternal life. The Apostles, building on Jesus’ establishment of Peter’s power to bind and loose in the Holy Catholic Church (Mt 16:19), will assist Jesus in ruling His Kingdom. Summing things up, Jesus confirms “the first” (like the Rich Young Man) will be last, and “the last” (like the self-sacrificing Apostles) will be first.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be awed by the chance to hear Jesus, with Divine Knowledge and the perfection of Justice, reveal the truth about men and their salvation: as the Son of God, Jesus has Divine Knowledge through which He mysteriously reveals the challenges and outcomes of the salvation of men; He reveals that each man is subject to Vindication by God (a part of Justice by which punishments and rewards are given appropriate for a man’s thoughts and behaviors), some who cling to materialism and fail to be generous will be punished (not allowed into Heaven) while those who generously sacrifice for Jesus will receive both temporal (in this life) and eternal rewards.
Have faith in Christ’s Divine Power to make you a saint
Realize: The Apostles become fearful when they begin to understand the perfection required to enter Heaven; every Catholic man can avoid fear and pursue perfection by growing in the faith that Jesus has the Divine Power to make him a saint.
Believe: Reflect upon The Implications of Faith in One God (CCC 222-231).
Pray: Jesus Christ, Divine Power, help me build the Virtue of Faith so I turn away from fear and doubt, and grow in certain faith that You will use Your Divine Power to forgive my sins, and help me reach the perfection a sainthood, and welcome me into Your Kingdom.
Fulfill your sacred duty to serve Christ
Realize: Jesus created men with the nature to aspire to heroic service; He calls the Apostles and all men to heroic service and promises that Heaven will be the destination for those who do His will.
Believe: Reflect upon the call to Serve Christ (CCC 160, 358, 786, 1273, 2084, 2096).
Pray: Jesus, Divine King, help me build the Virtue of Duty/Responsibility (a part of Justice) so I solemnly accept my duty to serve You and zealously fulfill my duty by seeking and doing Your Will each day of my life.