“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ . . . They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.'”  Mark 10: 23-27

Ponder this note on the above passage from the New American Bible Revised Edition (Official Catholic Bible):

“In the Old Testament wealth and material goods are considered a sign of God’s favor (Jb 1:10; Ps 128:1–2; Is 3:10). The words of Jesus in Mk 10:23–25 provoke astonishment among the disciples because of their apparent contradiction of the Old Testament concept (Mk 10:24, 26). Since wealth, power, and merit generate false security, Jesus rejects them utterly as a claim to enter the kingdom. Achievement of salvation is beyond human capability and depends solely on the goodness of God who offers it as a gift (Mk 10:27).”

Is ‘wisdom’ to amass “wealth, power and merit” or is it to “enter the kingdom of God”? Does the last sentence above indicate we should turn our attention to opening our arms and our hands to the gifts that God wants to give us? How does one do that? Probably very similarly to how we accept a gift from anyone who loves us dearly.  Suggestion:  Turn to God. Be still and listen to the wisdom(“I love you”) that is welling up inside of you.

Sister Loretta