Ezekiel 28:1-10 / Matthew 19:23-30
It is said that most men can withstand adversity, but to test a man's character, just give him power.
When a man is given power, and more so absolute power, then what comes next is the tendency to be corrupted.
Much as power does not necessarily corrupt a person, but when he does not know or realise where that power comes from, he will act and behave like he is a god.
Such has happened to the pharaohs and the emperors and the kings of the past.
Such was what happened to the ruler of the Tyre in the 1st reading, and the prophet Ezekiel was sent to tell him of his folly.
Will that ruler of Tyre heed the prophet's message and learn his lesson?
When one is high and mighty and powerful, he will think that he is like a god and even thinks that he is a god.
And when one is rich and wealthy, one may not necessarily think that he is like a god or think that he is god.
But he may not think about God at all.
Hence, Jesus said that it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Because like power, money and wealth can corrupt and make a man foolish.
Let us pray for that wisdom to know that nothing can save us except God who sent His Son to show us how to live simply and humbly.