HOW EASY IS IT TO MAKE HEAVEN?
We see people die around us every now and then. Sometimes we hear people discuss about the riches of the deceased. People discuss about the huge amount of money such poeople have left behind especially in their bank accounts. A friend of mine who works in a bank told me how many people die daily, leaving plenty of money in their accounts without anyone knowing about it. 

St James in the first reading of today, talks about riches, and the fate of those who get rich in a dubious way. It may seem as if he speaks against those who are rich, James talks about those who acquired their riches in a fraudulent way, especially those who out of injustice of wages to their workers or public funds have enriched themselves. Life may be like that of enjoyment at the moment, but according to James, torment and agony await them at the long run. The injustice and torment they have caused others will surely come to hunt them. 

This is why Jesus tells us in the gospel reading to cut off from our lives whatever will cause us to sin. Whatever we have, and we know that it is not going to help us make heaven, should be cut off from our lives. It is never too late, we always have opportunities to make amends. If riches will make you miss heaven, it is better to go into heaven poor. Jesus tells us that it is better to be blind, lame, deaf and other deformities and make heaven than to go to hell because of material things. 

In a world where everyone wants to be rich, and many young people do whatever they can to get rich, the psalmist today tells us not to be afraid or anxious when we see people around us get rich, no one takes anything with them when they die, riches ends here in earth. We pray for ourselves today, that what we have will lead us to heaven and not away from it. Amen. 

*Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP.*