Ecclesiasticus 17:24-29 / Mark 10:17-27
It would be interesting to ask people what they want in life.
Interesting because of the answers that they might give.
The probable answers are: I want health; I want success; I want freedom; I want independence; I want to be rich, etc.
How many would say this: I want to find meaning in life.
Or, I want to be the person that I am created to be.
That can be the question for our reflection. What kind of person do I want to be?
Do I want to be a deceitful person, a greedy person, a nasty person, a selfish person, a wicked person?
Or do I want to be a loving person, a generous person, a compassionate and caring person, a trustworthy and honest person?
Such a question is essentially a question of identity.
Because in answering the question, we begin to ask about who we really are, why we are created, and what is the meaning of our existence.
All those questions point to a turning back to God, which is in essence, a repentance.
As the 1st reading puts it, to those who repent, God permits return, and He even encourages those who are losing hope.
In other words, when we are losing meaning and hope in life, God comes to us with open arms and gives us meaning in life.
As it is, if wealth is lost, nothing is really lost.
If health is lost, then something is lost.
But if meaning in life is lost, then everything is lost.