Blessed To Be A Blessing

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

October 15, 2024

in Spritual Growth

No Comments

527

WATCH

October 13, 2024:
Readings: Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15
Hebrews 3: 1-6
Mark 10: 17-27

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time 2024

Each Sunday Mark is revealing to us the life that God intends us to have. But do we really understand what has been spoken? Too often we just read the scriptures and do not understand its meaning. Sometimes we may have even thought that the things for us are from God but they are not. And if this happens, we get into trouble and often struggle through life.

In today’s lesson, as Jesus was getting ready to leave on a journey, a young man ran to Him and knelt in front of Him. “Good Rabbi,” he began, “what shall I do to gain eternal life?” He was wanting to know how He can receive the fullness of what God has intended for him. Christ answered, “How did you know that I was good. You know the commandments; Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud.” When He finished narrating the commandments, the man said, “but I’ve been following the commandments all my life.” And Jesus looked at him and said, “there is one thing you lack. Go sell all your possessions, give them to the poor and come follow Me. And you will have treasures in heaven.” Yes, he had wealth. He did a good job taking care of himself. But he did not reach out to help the poor. What Jesus is telling us is that He blesses us so that we can bless others. He knows that man normally just thinks of himself. Jesus then turns to His disciples and said, “it is hard for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

According to Scriptures, we have been blessed with a purpose. God supplies all we need, not all we want. The danger of too much prosperity is a lack of peace and security. Our whole goal is to help others. When Jesus was baptized and led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil to turn the rock into bread, Jesus counteracted by saying, “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” This is clearly showing us that when wealth is being used to tempt us and we succumb to it, and only want it for ourselves, we are bound to get into trouble. Kingdom life is meant for sharing and helping others in need. Our security is heaven. God protects our security. If we have more than enough, it is for us to share and be a blessing. Jesus was willing to give up the wealth of heaven, to come to us and identify with us in poverty, that through Him, we may become blessed.