First reading: Wis. 7:7–11

I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.

Second reading: Heb. 4:12–13

Brothers and sisters: Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Gospel: Mk. 10:17–30

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.”

He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “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.”

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. 

So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 

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.”

In other words

by Fr. Raymun J. Festin, SVD (Rome, Italy)

The adjective “good” is a handy and catch-all term we use in our everyday conversation. We conveniently describe persons, things, and events in a general way with this simple word.

We characterize a person as a “good” teacher, “good” leader, “good” parent, “good” friend, or “good” priest.

Tasty food is “good.” A beautiful painting is also “good,” and so is a homily that inspires.

We all have an intuitive understanding of what is good. Even a child has a sense of the good. Ask a child why he/she likes chocolates or ice cream, and he/she will tell you it’s because it’s good.

The “good” for us is anything pleasant, pleasurable, beautiful, useful, agreeable, inspiring, nice, delightful, life-giving, true—and many more.

Anything worth having or possessing is good.

However, even the unpleasant or disagreeable, or painful can be good. For example, to humble oneself is unpleasant but good. To forgive can be disagreeable, but it is good for the soul. Fasting is an excruciating activity, but it does good to the mind and body. To serve others is difficult, yet it is noble and good.

That is why there are degrees of good. Things such as food, money, and power are only “good” in a relative way. They should not be pursued or possessed for their own sake because they are only means.

The higher goods in life are charity, kindness, compassion, mercy, honesty, generosity, and gentleness. Each of these should be pursued for its own sake because it is an end in itself.

Now, the higher goods in life point to the highest good of all: God, the source and origin of all good things.

When Jesus says in the Gospel, “No one is good but God alone,” he is referring to God as the absolute, the highest, the purest, and the unconditioned good.

In the end, God is the only, truest, and ultimate good that the human heart ought to pursue and possess. And a person’s heart will remain restless until it finds the absolute Good.