Are Riches All That Bad?

Gospel Reflection: Matthew 19:23-30

You can find today's readings on the USCCB website.

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Image by Pina Messina via Unsplash

This Gospel is provoking. Is there one of us who has read this passage over the years and not interiorly wondered, ‘OK, Jesus, but how rich?’

Jesus makes it plain and clear: wealth makes it difficult for a person to give themselves completely over to God. It is not impossible, but the chances are not high.

St. John Chrysostom describes the problem of riches in this way: “For answer me, whom shall we affirm to be tormented and pained? Him that longs after costly meats and drinks, and is not able to enjoy them as he will, or him that has not such a desire? It is quite clear one must say, him that desires, but cannot obtain what he desires. For this is so painful, to desire and not to enjoy, to thirst and not to drink, that Christ desiring to describe hell to us, described it in this way, and introduced the rich man thus tormented.”

The desire for riches itself becomes like a drive that can never be satisfied - one must divest themselves completely of this desire because that desire replaces the desire for God. They cannot coexist.

It is not the riches themselves that are sinful, but the desire and attachment; this is what separates us from God. I'm reminded of the word 'cling' in regards to this: we cling to riches instead of clinging to God.

Conversely, Jesus not only advises against such attachments, but also emulates his own teaching through his incarnation. In an ancient hymn recorded by Paul, we find that the early Church understood that, "though [Jesus] was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be clung to [grasped at/exploited]" (Philippians 2:6). The richness of the Godhead - to this Jesus himself did not cling to! "But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7).

And it is not enough to just give everything up. Jesus adds that it must be given up “for the sake of my name” (vs. 29). It all has to be given up for the sake of his name:

In Christ’s name, I give up my desire for riches.

In Christ’s name, I give up my desire for family.

In Christ’s name, I give up my desire for a house or land.

Now, wait a moment. This sounds almost like a prayer some of us might be familiar with…the Litany of Humility:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

- Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val

Image by DDP via

Mary, whose queenship we celebrate today, embodies this detachment from earthly desires. She shows us that eternal life can be attained when we can be filled with a holy desire for God. How much more of a reward is eternal life than desires that can never be satisfied!

We can add our own struggles into this litany; we can personalise it to our own needs. May it be one of the hardest things we pray, and in Christ’s name may we desire its actualisation earnestly for the sake of his Kingdom and our eternal life. Amen.