The story of Cardema made headlines these past days. He is overage, he cannot be in any way be a representative of the youth in congress. Obvious and clear the law maybe but he still insist and he even accuse that he is the victim in this case. So young yet so hungry for power. So young yet so absorbed with dirty politics. So young yet so corrupt…
The young man in the Gospel is on the right track. Sinusunod niya ang minimum requirement ng pagkakaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan: ang pagsunod sa utos ng Diyos. Pero may kulang pa. Deep within is a desire to do more. He is longing for something and he cannot pinpoint what it is. He aspire for something greater.
“Umuwi ka, ipagbili mo ang iyong ari-arian at ibigay sa mga dukha at sumunod ka sa akin.” And with these words, the young man surrendered. He cannot afford to just throw away what he has.
Nanghihinayang marahil siya sa kanyang mga na-acquire. Perhaps he has also many future plans. Maybe he felt that giving up those wealth will make him empty. In a way he is addicted to what he has. He is not in control. His money and possessions control him. He is an addict.
The young man did not try. He easily chose to reject the invitation to follow Jesus. His sadness illustrates his desolation deep within. He thought that his happiness and completeness can be found in material things. Little did he know that in giving up those thing dear to him he will gain more, he will have Jesus. Had he experience the joy of being with Jesus, for sure he will accept the challenge. Had he try to partake bread with Jesus he would realize that what he is looking for is already in front of him. He he try to walk with Jesus he will arrive at what he is asking for: eternal life.
But here is the twist: the story did not end there. It is an open-ended story. While the story tells us that he went away in sadness, it did not say what else happen to this young man.
He is young and he will have the chance to make up his mind. Experiences will teach him that he made a bad decision rejecting Jesus’ invitation of discipleship. Life will eventually teach him that life is not all about money. Life is not all about power.
The young man is sad and Jesus look at him with love…
