The first reading is supposed to remind us of Solomon, choosing wisdom over wealth or power. In the scriptures, wisdom means doing God’s will in all things. As Jesus tried to tell the man in the gospel, knowing and doing God’s will is more precious than wealth, or even family!
So if wisdom is that good, why do so few seek it? Most of us have no problem doing God’s will, as long as it is the same as ours. Or we do God’s will if it is painless and convenient. Sometimes we are like that man in the gospel, desiring wisdom but not willing to pay for it.
Maybe our problem is that we don’t trust God enough. The first reading, after praising wisdom more than health, wealth, and beauty, ends with a promise of “countless riches” while Jesus promises that the one who gives up everything will receive “a hundred times more.” Because the rich man left in sorrow, he missed the punch line.
I can think of two ways to interpret that promise. One is that the more we give up for the love of the Lord, the more we get back. The other is finding that what truly makes us happy is knowing we are loved by God and responding with love for others.
Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications