Signs of Favor

Gospel: Matthew 19: 23-30

It was customary in ancient times - and in our own - to look for material signs of God's favor on a person.  Very often God's blessing was equated with good health and riches, while God's disfavor was thought to be signaled by poverty and illness.  Hence, the story of Job portrayed both in exactly these ways, and we see such prevalent in the encounters between Jesus and various people throughout the Gospels.  However, Jesus rejects such thinking consistently, as is evident in today's Gospel portion.

Goodness and holiness have qualities all their own.  To seek signs of such things is foolish and fallacious.  Consider the fact that very often riches are acquired in this world through dishonest means and at the expense of other people's well-being, not exactly good and holy things.  It is for this reason that Jesus repeatedly encourages us to a life of simplicity and sharing our things with the poor. Such sharing is an act of justice, not charity, for we have more than what is our due and providing it to those who have been deprived of their due.

Jesus time and again warns us against riches and wealth, for the desire of these things leads to gross injustices and crimes that harm many people.  If it is goodness and holiness we genuinely seek, we find it only in the example of the Lord Jesus himself who lived a life of simplicity, mercy, and love toward others.