In the first century after the birth of Christ and continuing until the thirteenth century, one did not count his wealth by looking at a bank account or a stock market portfolio. Currency and coin were mere tokens of wealth. True wealth lay in herds of cattle, sheep and camels, in acres of land, in children and family. In addition to these material possessions was the wealth of honor and status in society. A truly wealthy person was someone who was held in high esteem while holding great possessions. Thus, King Herod would not have been considered truly wealthy because he was held in such disdain by the people. It wasn't until the end of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth century that people started to consider the size of their pocketbooks or money purses in calculating their wealth.
This is reflected throughout the Scriptures. Consider Job in the book carrying his name of the Hebrew Scriptures. The first chapter tells us that Job was a very wealthy man: Seven sons and three daughters were born to him; and he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very large household, so that he was greater than anyone in the East. (Job 1:2-3)
It is also reflected in Peter's question and Jesus' answer in the Gospel today: Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." (Mark 10:28-30) This question and its answer follows hard on the story of the rich young man which we read in yesterday's Gospel passage.
Even Franciscan Provinces have investment portfolios in this day and age. CUSA is entirely funded by a charitable trust that was established by our foundress and her husband. Every diocese and archdiocese and every religious order or congregation has put aside that proverbial nest egg. So today's Gospel is not an easy nut to crack. Does it really advocating giving up everything? Are we being true to the Gospel if we have the security of a bank account or stock portfolio?
I suppose the best answer to this is that we are constantly facing the challenge of the Gospel. Throughout our history, the Church has been blessed with people like St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, both of whom call us to give up everything to serve the needs of the poorest of the poor. Pope Francis has certainly been sounding the clarion call to simplify our lives and pay attention to the global effects of the fiscal policies that see the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. The fact of the matter is that all of us fall short of the ideal. The Gospel continues to challenge and motivate us. The promises made by Jesus are just as relevant today as they were when he made them to Peter.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator