Matthew 19: 23-30

When a human being encounters God and experiences how much God loves him/her, he/she feels small, insignificant and unworthy before Him. This is a real experience of Moses, Jeremiah, Gideon and the other prophets. Similarly, I had the same experience when I was ordained as a priest. I felt unworthy of the gift of priesthood.

Each one of us has a purpose and mission in life. Whatever profession or career we have, we are part of the whole plan of God. The mission that he entrusts us always goes beyond our human strength, so that he can fill in our limitation. God gives strength and hope when there is a task to be done and He is true to His promise to be with us. Furthermore, He invites us to collaborate with His plan. As always the case, He looks in our hearts when He chooses us. He acknowledges our strength and weaknesses. So when He calls us we ought to respond and trust in Him.

Rich people whose security seem to lie alone in wealth, power, prestige and influence would find it difficult to trust God and enter the Kingdom of heaven. As the gospel says: “Truly, I say to you: it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Unless they undergo “kenosis,” that is, self-emptying, they would not recognize and acknowledge their dependency on God. Thus, self-emptying and allowing God to work in and through us in the events of our lives is the key to a meaningful and fruitful life!

By Fr. Jerome Cayetano, SVD