FRIDAY, SECOND WEEK OF LENT

Jesus taught by Meeting People where they Were

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments…” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Mark 10: 17-22

This is one of those passages most of us hold our breath over, waiting for some word or phrase that will let us off the hook. Finding none, we start looking for escape clauses in our own lives. “I’m not really rich.” True, compared to some, I’m not. And yet false. Compared to most of the world, I’m unbelievably wealthy. “I’m happy to give, so long as it doesn’t push me to make a noticeable shift in the lifestyle to which I’m accustomed.” “I have a lot of stuff, but I still put God first.” Or we make it society’s problem: “The issue of wealth and poverty is a systemic giant. Any change or sacrifice I make won’t really matter.”

But maybe we just need to let Jesus’ charge upset us. It certainly upset the rich man. I’ve always wondered, though, if we underestimate him. All we know is that he was grieved by what Jesus said, because he had a lot of stuff. But was his grief over having to say “No” to the tough thing Jesus asked of him? OR was it over having to say “Goodbye” to all the stuff he would soon be giving away?

Explore this passage with someone you trust. Wrestle and pray over it. Think about what it means within your own life to need, to want, and to have enough. What are you to learn?

Loving God, so many things seem impossible for me. But not for you; all things are possible for you. I am trying to be a faithful disciple, but some of the things Jesus asks of me are tough. Please strengthen me to keep going when I want to look for an easier path. And help me to live simply. This I ask in Jesus’ name.