28th Sunday: "The One thing"

 

"How hard for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God"

Mark 10: 2-16

The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101324.cfm

May your grace, O Lord, we pray

at all times go before us and follow after

and make us always determined to carry out good works.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God

for ever and ever. 

(Opening Collect)

Just imagine a camel trying to crouch down and force itself headfirst through a needle’s eye.  The image is comical and weird in its own way not to mention that something is seriously wrong with that camel.

But the point of Jesus’ analogy in our Gospel is not to make some sort of outlandish joke but rather, in his rabbinical style just as we have heard these last few Sundays, to make a point so clear that the image drives it home to us.  In this case he speaks with a word of sadness undoubtedly to the sincere young man’s desire to gain eternal life.  “You are lacking in one thing” Jesus says to the man who defends his upright Jewish life of faithfulness to the commandments.  That "one thing" is to let go of the grasp of wealth.

 Note how the Gospel passage from Mark begins: “As Jesus was setting out on a journey a man ran up . . .” Mark frames this event as our Lord begins to set out on a “journey.” As he sets out a wealthy man eagerly approaches Jesus with great honor, he kneels before him. The wealthy man is eager but feels a nagging sense that although obedient to the commandments and living an upright life, there must be something more to gain eternal reward that he hasn’t done yet, so he awaits Jesus’ response. You can imagine the hope on his face and so does Jesus as he looks at him with love reading his sincerity.

The man’s question elicits a response from Jesus who then lists six of the Ten Commandments.  These commandments concern our relationship with one another and that concerning the possessions of others; the things of this world and our human relationships which he obviously enjoys and lives them out as the Bible intends. Jesus senses his respect for God but also sees where the attachment lies, in the people and possessions that are such a focus of wealth in his life. He must make a radical choice, he must let go. Yet, not realizing this one more thing he proudly states that he has been a serious minded Jew – “. . . all of these I have observed from my youth.” Does he see his wealth and advantage as a kind of entitlement? He likely, as the apostles as well, view his earthly abundance as a blessing from God. So I must be on the right track!

In Jesus response to the man, he asks a central question that all who want to truly be a disciple of Jesus must answer, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor . . . then come, follow me.”  To set out in journey with Jesus means to pay the full price of what God asks of us – singular and central love of God and then all others come into proper perspective. What or who do I love more than God or where are my real riches? Can I embrace the radical choice of letting go?

Obviously, the man is shocked by Jesus fuller demand to let go of what the man deems power, influence, advantage, and most of all a blessing from God.  Let go of it, give it away, then we can unhindered follow in the way of Christ. The young man’s whole demeanour changes to which Jesus comments on the power of possessions and misplaced wealth.in the camel and the needle’s eye analogy. It is not only difficult for people possessed by their possessions or by the pursuit of earthly values, but near impossible to enter the kingdom of God

Clearly to follow the Lord is to lay aside that which holds us back; that which possess us. To lose a certain security and to seek trust and a wise choice.

Our first reading from Wisdom beautifully illustrates this in which the author pleads for “wisdom.” To the ancient Jews the pursuit of wisdom meant practical advice on how to manage one’s life and possessions.  That’s a worthy desire of course but more deeply how to order one’s life in relationship with God is the fuller question; the rest of the demand to Christian discipleship. To seek wisdom is to desire to know what God asks of us and to willingly embrace that; to order my life with wisdom (God) at the center.

After the dejected man leaves Jesus company, he comments about the difficulty that a well-meaning but misguided priority of our life will lead us down the wrong path: “How hard it is to enter he 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.” Assuming wealth is a sign of God’s favor the disciples are shocked at the explanation Jesus gives.  But he assures them that if we place our main priority on God we can have confidence on his journey: “With God all things are possible.” It is not impossible for the rich to attain salvation but it is harder due to their greater attachments.

We don’t earn our salvation as if it were a reward or an entitlement such as an inheritance. Although right behavior is of course beneficial, ultimately it is God’s grace in our lives.  It is the pursuit of the Spirit (wisdom) and only with him will the gift of salvation be received.  It is not what we do or what we have but rather what God has done for us in his Son.

If we prioritize our lives where God is the center, if we are willing to sacrifice for a higher good even that of our own lives for the Gospel values ultimately then an even greater wealth awaits us in heaven. That’s the high road of a deeper spiritual life that is possible only through sacrifice. To live with a central place for God in our lives and to pursue the wisdom of the spirit above all other attachments and pleasures is to order things rightly. But that demands that we can’t have it all; we must learn to say “no,” in order to say “yes” to Christ.

Our Lord’s response is reassuring about the riches that will come to Peter and to others who have done what Jesus advises: “. . . a hundred times more now and in this present life . . .” The what’s in it for me question seems natural yet still a bit off the mark.  Jesus essentially lays the grounds for discipleship.

Each week we gather at Mass around the table of the Lord.  Not to be spectators but to fully and actively participate. The pews are not filled with inanimate objects but with human beings beloved by God who seeks a relationship with us.

We come to give thanks that we receive the gift God offers to us – that of his own Son.  At the same time, we are there to recognize our true wealth in Christ. Whatever we are holding on to or holds on to us we must let go. It isn’t only material wealth that holds us: bad habits, unhealthy relationships, unforgiveness, prejudice and racism our own personal sin. 

I recently read what I felt was a wonderful insight about the power of secular culture today: “We give a nod to God and then go and do what we want.” If we seek wisdom above all, Christ Jesus himself above all, then all else will take its rightful place.