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Starting I think in
our high school years, continuing through college, into the
beginning of our careers and possibly marriage we have an almost
overwhelming question to deal with, “Can I make it in the world?” We
wonder if we’re smart enough, work hard enough, have enough
education, etc. We wonder if we’ll make enough money, have good
friends, a good marriage, children, and enjoy life. This leads us to
do whatever it takes to succeed, be powerful, be popular, and have
the money we need. We live the motto: “More is better.”
As we mature we should grow a bit more reflective. At some point we
should begin to realize that more success, power, popularity, and
wealth are not bringing us the true happiness we seek. We should
begin to live life more deeply.
Jesus says “Woe to you” to those who are satisfied, rich, and well
thought of. This is not Jesus promise to punish or exact revenge on
people because they have done something wrong. This is Jesus’
warning to those who have lost their way. It isn’t that these things
are somehow inherently bad or evil. Jesus is just concerned with
people who don’t reach that level of maturity to realize that these
things don’t bring them true happiness. Jeremiah states it
differently. He says “cursed is the one who trust in human beings.”
Again he names the effect of trusting in human power rather than in
Gods’ of settling for what the limited world can offer and losing
out on the infinite goodness God offers. There is also the added
sense that a person is deserving of the curse because the quest for
power, riches, popularity, and success cause injustice to be
inflicted upon the poor and marginalized.
St. Paul tells us in the second reading that Christ’s resurrection
and our future resurrection make all the difference. If there is no
resurrection, we are the most pitiable of people. God’s gift of
eternal life makes all the difference. At some point in our maturing
process we have to realize that more success, as important as it
seemed, doesn’t bring us what we are truly looking for. God’s
kingdom is in our world but not limited to it. We can experience
those things that last; faith, hope, and especially love. We
experience this in our relationship with God and try to live it out
in our relationships with others.
Truly woe and cursed is the one who never learns this, who limits
their lives to the things that don’t last or truly satisfy. They
don’t really know God and life, though distracted, is hellish. But
blessed is the one who realizes the limits of this world and lives
instead for the things that last eternally. That one already knows
the heavenly kingdom. |
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