Today, we can see how Jesus —who loves us— wants us all to enter the Kingdom of God. Hence, the strong warning to the “rich”. They are also called to enter the Kingdom. But they do face more difficult challenges to open themselves to God. Their wealth may make them believe they already have everything; they are tempted to jeopardize their own safety and trust by placing them in their possibilities and riches. They do not realize that both their trust and safety should rather be placed in God. And not only through words, but through actions: it is very easy to say «Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You», but how difficult it is to show it through your actions. If we are wealthy, when we sincerely recite the above short prayer, we should try to use our wealth to help others, feeling we are engaged in the stewardship of what God has given us.
I cooperate with a mission in Venezuela where I have to go regularly. There, really —in their poverty, missing most of what is needed— people realize they are hanging by a thread, and that their hold on life is very fragile. This situation helps them to see it is God who gives their lives a meaning, and that they actually are in the hands of God. On the other hand, here —in our modern world of conspicuous consumption— we have so many things that we can feel tempted to believe they can give us security, that we are hanging by a strong rope. But —like those “poor ones”—, our lives are also hanging by a very fine thread. As Mother Teresa said «We must free ourselves to be filled by God. Even God cannot fill what is full». We are risking having God just as another additional element of our life, another book in our library; important, yes, but just another book. Therefore, not considering him as our true and only Saviour.
The point is that whether wealthy or poor we cannot be saved just by ourselves: «Who, then, can be saved?» (Mk 10:26), will wonder the disciples, and Jesus will answer «For humans it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God» (Mk 10:27). Let us all place our full trust in Jesus, and let it show up in our lives.