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Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle maker #427: Visisble or Invisible?
I sometimes struggle with expressing some of the things that are in my heart. What is important? What’s not important? How much of what goes into “making the sausage” here at Heritage Arts should I share? Should I be frank about matters of faith, or hold my tongue so as not to offend those who lack faith? Should I be honest about the obstacles and struggles faced by myself and the charity, or be a proper stoic?
I faced some of those questions once more as I was rewriting the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble Student Handbook. Of particular concern was the student oath. Should I explain it’s true origin and meaning? Or should I gloss over it and just let it sit there like a bump on a log, unappealing to people of faith and confusing to the purely materialists?
Providentially, this week’s readings for the twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, concerned this precise issue — how to discern the importance of the material-temporal and the immaterial-eternal.
By the light of the weekly readings and the flaming Sword of Truth, I finished up the re-write of the new student handbook with total candor — click the photo to give it a thorough read.
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Homily for the Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 10/13/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Wis 7:7-11, Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17, Heb 4:12-13, Mk 10:17-30
Mark 10:17-30 World English Bible
17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’ ”*
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.”
21 Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”
22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, 30 but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In today’s readings we receive a clear message about discernment between the material, visible world and the invisible, spiritual realm. We read in the book of Wisdom that the ability to discern what is truly valuable is of greater value than gold, silver, and gems, that it is in fact priceless. We also learn that, through prayer, this discernment is available to us all.
Then, in Hebrews, we read that this discernment is like a sword – but more powerful than any material sword – and able to penetrate to the very heart of any issue, “penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” I confess I’ve always been very struck with this image, so much so that the Latin motto of my charity Heritage Arts is Ex Gladio Scientia, which means “From the Sword comes Knowledge.” The Sword of Discernment has been given to us by Christ both here in Hebrews and in Matthew 10:34-36 when our Lord says, “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword” encouraging us to put God’s truth and righteousness above political, social, familial, and economic concerns – once again elevating the invisible-eternal above the visible-temporal.
Speaking more plainly than ever, in today’s Gospel reading Jesus tells us that even though it is impossible for us to fully step beyond worldly needs and concerns, we must make the effort. It’s not the fact of being rich that’s the problem. It’s not the money itself, the physical assets, that locks the doors. It isn’t the paper money that shuts us out. No, it is the act of putting worldly pursuits above the spiritual quest that separates us from God’s kingdom. It’s obsession with materialistic concerns that prevents us from resting in Christ’s presence now and forever – the inner meaning of the term “kingdom of God.”
We are human. At virtually every moment of every day, workaday concerns and physical needs are demanding our attention – hunger, thirst, worry, disaster, pain, disappointment, unexpected expenses, malfunctioning cars, homes, and computers, and on, and on, and on. It’s impossible to demote those things in importance and focus on God without fail. But the good news we share is that, as our God and Lord Jesus has said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
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* 10:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20