I will start with a serious question which requires some serious thinking and perhaps some serious soul searching.
The question is: “What do we REALLY want from life?” … emphasizing the word REALLY.
The things we really want and the things we think we want are often not the same things. We say we want this or that, but when life puts us to the test, it turns out that what we really want is something else… our heart is not where we think it is.
Today’s Gospel reading presents a clear illustration of this strange contradiction. It tells about a man who came running to Jesus, excited, knelt in his presence and said: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Everything about the scene would suggest that here was a man who knew what he wanted: eternal life with God in heaven, which actually must be our ultimate goal… Heaven is our true home… We are just passing through in this life. Everything in this world is passing.The man came running. He knew where he was going and was eager to get there. He knelt before Jesus – an indication of humility and a willingness to learn. He asked a specific question. Apparently, he had seen a quality in the life of Jesus that he thought he wanted for his own life. He wants what Jesus has.
But, sadly, when Jesus told him how to reach that goal, his face fell; he gave up his search and went back to his old way of living. What he thought he wanted and what he really wanted turned out to be two different things.
That same kind of contradiction can easily take place in your life and mine. And it is usually so subtle that we are not even aware of it. We tell ourselves that we are pursuing some worthwhile goal, when all the while we are actually seeking some lesser goal. This is the reason I asked the question the way I did, emphasizing the word “really”. What do you and I REALLY want from life?
The answer to this question is this: The things that we really want are those things for which we are willing to pay the price that it takes to get them – whatever is necessary to get them.
We tell ourselves and our families and friends that this is our goal. But we never get around to paying the price that it takes to reach that goal. We do not want to pay the price. So, we really need to be honest with ourselves.
The man in the story was rich, powerful, belonged to the ruling class – what we would call a successful man… a unique opportunity to lead a happy and useful life. But in spite of all of that, he had not found the fulfillment that his heart so deeply desired. Then one day, a simple Galilean carpenter told him how he could have the kind of life that he though he wanted. Jesus said: “Sell what you have and give to the poor… after that, come and follow me.”
The man had been telling himself that he wanted eternal life, true lasting joy and peace… But when he learned the price it would cost him - what kind of living or lifestyle it would cost him, he changed his mind. It turned out that what he really wanted was temporary riches and pleasures of life, because that was the thing for which he was willing to pay the price.
That is the only valid test of a person’s true goals in life. We are willing to pay the price that it takes to get them… whatever is necessary.
Think about it: What is it that you are willing to pay everything for it?
I challenge each one of us today to apply this searching test to his or her own life. It is one thing, and a rather easy one, for you and me to desire some worthwhile goal. It is another thing for us to pay the price that is really necessary to reach that goal.
My guess is that everyone here would profess a desire for improved character and to have better relationships with others. In a broad and general sense, all of us would like to be better people than we were. All of us would like to have happy homes and family life and enduring relationships.
The question is – how many of us, right now today, are practicing spiritual disciplines that lead to strength of character? How many of us are putting the needs of other people on the same level, or even on a higher level than our own needs? To honestly answer those questions is the only way to determine what you and I really want from life. Are you willing to pay the price?
Another way to ponder this serious question: If you and I want the finer things in life, we must pay for them before we get them.
If, on the other hand, we want cheap and shabby things, we can buy them on credit – even if we do not have the money because we want them now and just pay for them later. We live in a society of instant gratification. People live on credit. The man in our gospel story – was faced with two choices – eternal life OR temporary riches and pleasures. Eternal life requires payment in advance, so to speak. Temporary riches and pleasures - he could have immediately.
You and I are faced with the same kind of choices. To the students – if you want an idle and lazy or easygoing life, just fun times, you can have it right now but you have to pay for it later. But if you want to get a good education and graduate – even with honors, you cannot have that today and you must pay the price before you can possess it… by having disciplined good study habits… sacrifice.
If a man wants to express his sexuality by having casual affairs with a number of different women, none of whom he really knows well, he can start today. He can have that kind of life right now and pay for it later.
Remember: You have control over your choices and behavior but you have no control over the consequences of your choices and behavior. Behavior have consequences. Choices have consequences.
If a man wants a good marriage and a good home and family, where love deepens into friendship and grows richer with every passing year, he cannot have that immediately. It can be his – someday, but he must pay for it – by a life of virtues – self-discipline, chastity, before he can possess it.
So, what do we really want from life?
I think the message for us is this: We need to pay for what we want. We need to pay in advance, so to speak – meaning – pay in terms of devotion to Christ and discipline of self – life lived according to God’s will, life of self-sacrifice and self-giving. Then the best things in life can be ours forever and ever.
As Jesus said: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:33 RSVCE)
Our wealth – be it much or be it little – addressing especially to those who have much more – remember – that our wealth does not mean that we are more deserving than the poor or than those who have less.
It is unreasonable for us to see everything we have as signs of our own merit. They are not. Every good thing that you and I enjoy are all by the grace of God - gift of God’s grace. And when we fail to see that, as Jesus said: “it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for us to enter the kingdom of God.”
There is a saying: “Money cannot buy happiness.” In one sense, it is true. You will not find true lasting happiness in any store or even vacation or pleasurable places. But, if you buy a poor child a new pair of shoes, that purchase is going to produce a double dip of happiness – one dip of happiness for the child and one dip of happiness for you.
Money cannot buy happiness as long as we spend it on ourselves but if we invest it on another, it is a different story. Who says you cannot buy happiness? It all depends on how you spend your money.
God bless…
