Nov 10 Sun
Should I be detached from material possessions?
The poor widow of Jerusalem gave to God all she had to live on. Our Lord praises her so strongly because, while she is extremely poor (she only has two cents in her purse), she is deeply generous (she gave all she had to live on). Although the amount she contributed was tiny, the sacrifice she made was immense. God does not weigh the gold but rather considers the conscience of the giver. The widow’s soul became full of God’s blessings.
All put in some of what they had left over. She gave everything to acquire the invisible goods. She offered what is short-lived to obtain what is immortal. For this reason, the Lawgiver himself did not forget her; the Judge of the world anticipated his sentence and foretold in the Gospel that he would give her the crown on the day of judgment.
It is not wrong to desire recognition and honor or to feel happy receiving it. After all, we are children of God, and He loves us.
Our Lord strongly condemns the scribes because, while they outwardly act piously (reciting long prayers), inwardly they are greedy (devouring the houses of widows).
If the scribes who behave in this way “will receive a very severe condemnation,” what will the widow receive who, from her poverty, has contributed her whole livelihood, her life? - The kingdom of heaven.
Jesus instructs his disciples to prefer Him over everything and everyone. He bids them to renounce all that they have for His sake and that of the Gospel. Thus, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it is necessary to be detached from riches.
Why is this so? I believe the reason is that riches cannot give us life or make us rich in what truly matters. Only God can.
More precisely, if our choices are directed toward material things, they will not be directed toward charity, which seeks the true good of others, despite what it might cost us.
Poverty of spirit, which Our Lord declares as blessed and which He lived, implies voluntary humility. This quality helps us acquire happiness and grace, beauty of soul, and peace.
Those attached to riches try to find happiness in an abundance of goods; yet only abandonment to God frees us from anxiety about tomorrow and prepares us to see Him.
God expects of us our love in the fulfillment of His Will, even in the smallest details. If we live in conversation with the Lord, we will become detached from everything and more centered on Him. We shall be happy to live in one place or another, whether we have certain means or lack them. In all circumstances, our gratitude to God will be evident, as we recognize that we are His instruments to do good to souls.
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