You Are a Man, Not God: Family Reflection Video

On Monday we heard the exchange in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus had with a young man who asked Jesus about becoming one of his followers. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man said he already did that. What else would he need to do. Jesus said, sell what you have, give to the poor and come follow me.

The young man thought about it. He probably reasoned that he really liked his life, his possessions, probably thought about getting married, having children and wanting to be able to afford good schools for them, opportunities to travel. He decided it just wasn’t for him. Jesus understood. The lifestyle that Jesus was offering was not for everyone.

            Today the story continues, and it is Jesus who is commenting on that exchange he had with the young man. Jesus acknowledged that it is hard for many people who have everything to come to a decision to follow what he teaches

The difficulty is not having a lot rather what having a lot sometimes does to relationships, our relationships with others and our relationships with God.

            There were a couple of examples of this in the Scriptures we heard today. The prophet Ezekiel described a man who had an inflated understanding of who he was. The man saw himself as invincible. He was smart, wise and with these gifts he acquired a lot of wealth. His wealth, his good fortune made him begin to think that he was unique, special. He began to think that he had the mind of god. And God had to remind him, “No, you are a man, not a god”.

As the reading from the Prophet Ezekiel continued the man experienced a litany of misfortunes and soon became aware that he was just a man and not a god. The pandemic that we are experiencing has sadly taught and is teaching a lot of men and women who thought they had everything in life, but soon learned that having everything is not everything.

            After a fashion Peter gave evidence in the gospel today that he too had a god complex. At one point he said to Jesus, “Jesus, we have given up everything and followed you. What’s in it for us?” What’s in it for us. Peter seemed to have forgotten that he was speaking to the Son of God, not just a friend. This can happen to us and our relationship with Jesus. We acquire ways of thinking, acting that can easily get us to believe that he is like us rather than he is first and foremost the Son of God. We will need to be told, no, you are humans not gods.

            The Scriptures today serve to remind us that having a lot is not the issue rather the lot can get in the way of relationships. We can have a lot, the lot being wealth, brothers, sisters, loved ones, children and having these, be a joyful giver and being a joyful giver, inherit eternal life.

• Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)

• To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)