DAILY- HOMILY

According to the Acts of the Apostles the early Christians sold everything they did not need for their daily living. The income was given to the Apostles who distributed it to the poor. They did this because Jesus constantly taught material possessions were one of the primary obstacles keeping people out of the kingdom. The pursuit of wealth, he taught, was diametrically opposed to the pursuit of the kingdom. No one can serve both these masters.

Therefore, Jesus promised that the kingdom would be the kingdom of the poor. "Blessed are you poor," he said, "yours is the kingdom of heaven." He also said, "Alas for you rich, you are having your consolation now."

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the only reason why the rich man was excluded from the kingdom was because he did not share his wealth with Lazarus.

And so, Jesus taught, it would be harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Of course, nothing is impossible to God; he can work miracles. Yet, often, as in today's gospel story, even God may be unable to perform the required miracle. In spite of the spiritual blessings discipleship with Jesus would bring to the rich man, in spite of his ardent desire to follow Jesus, the miracle Jesus tried to perform - separating him from his wealth - failed. God was powerless to work a miracle in the rich man's heart.

Who are the rich in our society? We are, all of us. For surely, in a society in which the vast majority of the people live in want or need even for their daily sustenance, those are rich who have more than they need to live on. Like the early Christians we are asked to sell what we do not need. Like all Christians we are reminded not to let our wealth possess us, lest we be blocked from entering the kingdom of the poor.