Alexander the Great is known to have created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.
He is considered one of history’s most successful military commanders.

However, in the dying moments, as the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last, he called his generals and said, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.”

“My first desire is that”, said Alexander, “my physicians alone must carry my coffin.

People should realize that no doctor on this earth can really cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death.”

He continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.

This is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.”

The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute’s rest and continued. “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.

I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world”.

With these words, the king closed his eyes.

The King realised the worthlessness and transitoriness  of this world’s wealth and power only at his dying moments.

The faster one realises the momentariness of wealth and pleasures of this world, the greater  will be the time one gets to cherish the true riches and treasures of life.

The Gospel of the Day presents a rich young man who was made to realise the fleeting nature of wealth and possessions by the Lord.

The young man in the Gospel approaches Jesus to ask, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10: 17)

When Jesus gives him list of commandments, that need to be followed to help ensure a passage into eternal life, the man replies, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth” (Mk 10: 20)

We underline a few aspects of this young man…
… he did desire for a life of eternity and followed the commandments
… he did nurture a sense of being pious and devout, to please the Lord

However…
… he probably failed to live up to the intentions of the commandments
… he possibly got lost into only keeping the letters of the commandments; not the spirit!

>> He got attached to doing God’s commandment…
…  but failed to break his attachments with the riches of the world.

>> He possessed the good will to follow God’s teachings…
… but failed to let go of the possessions of his life.

The Lord realised this “pitiable” condition of the young man.
>> He was wealthy in the world, but was unable to be rich before God
>> He was obedient to the laws, but was unable to be obedient to give up his attachments.

Therefore, the Lord, knowing this state of the young man – devout yet not properly focussed – “looked at him, loved him, and said, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come, follow me'” (Mk 10: 21)

This young man could represent any one of us…
>> We seek to be pious…
… but find it hard to let go of our possessions

>> We seek for holiness in life…
… but go through a struggle to give up our attachments

>> We seek to follow the Lord wholly…
…  but stumble to give ourselves entirely to the Lord

Yet, the Lord does not give up on us…
> He looks on us…
>> He loves us…
And He invites us, to have the proper focus in life!

>> It is not material possessions that ought to occupy our hearts; rather, our hearts needs to be possessed with the Love for the Lord.
>> It is not worldly treasures that should be our prime motto in life; rather, a life, dedicated to the Kingdom of God and helping the needy with the resources we have.

Our material life is totally in the control of the Lord.
>> Our material possessions will be of no avail, when we leave this world.
>> Our hands will not be able to hold any riches when we depart from this life.

Let us instead be possessed by the Lord, gather the precious stones of His grace and love by works of charity and hold on to Him, so that we may have a wonderful life of eternity with the Lord of all treasures!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India