Wis 7:7-11 | Heb 4:12-13 | Mk 10:17-30
The Belgian theologian, Joseph Comblin, in his book, The Meaning of Mission, wrote, and I’m paraphrasing here, “If the Gospels do not cause raised eyebrows, then chances are the Gospels are being compromised.” Is there a Gospel text more uncomfortable, more eyebrow-raising, than today’s Gospel from Mark? Especially for Christians living in a rich country like the United States? I doubt it. Who among us well-to-do folks do not cringe — at least a little — when hearing these words of Jesus ring out from the pulpit?
“How hard it is for those who have wealth 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.”
And it is not just the faithful in the pews who squirm, it is also the preachers! How many of them hate to upset their congregation by saying something that might challenge or offend? Something that might affect the Sunday collection? Jesus does not mince words, but we preachers do. Take for example:
“The ‘eye of a needle’ — it’s really a gate impossible for a camel, burdened with bundles, to pass through.” No, it’s not. It is an eye of a needle. Or … “Jesus really didn’t mean for us to change our lifestyle.” Yes, he did. Matthew Skinner, a New Testament scholar, understands the challenge preachers have when faced with this Gospel. “The challenge,” he wrote in an online commentary on this text, “is to show that the kingdom of God confronts us with a vision of life and identity quite incompatible with so many of our core presuppositions about wealth, prerogatives, and selfhood.” A challenge indeed.
Even for the disciples. They were flabbergasted. “Then who can be saved?” they asked. Keep in mind that in the time of Jesus, Jews believed that wealth was considered a blessing from God. If the wealthy was denied entrance into the kingdom of God, what about them? What chance would they have to ever enter God’s kingdom? Jesus responds, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Let’s face it, riches tend to make us self-reliant, self-centered, and distracted by worldly pursuits. We put too much confidence in ourselves and our wealth and lose our childlike trust and reliance on the goodness and mercy of God. Jesus in today’s Gospel is inviting us to rid ourselves of whatever distracts us from following Him. How will we respond? Will we respond like the man whose question about eternal life prompted Jesus’ disturbing remarks about wealth?
Let’s take a closer look at this young man. There’s a sense of urgency about him. He runs to catch up to Jesus, not wanting to lose the opportunity to engage. Unlike a leper screaming out for compassion or a sick person asking for a cure, this young man kneels and asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.
Jesus responds, “You know the commandments.” Indeed, he did. “All of these I have observed from my youth,” he says. Jesus looks at him with love and says, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor … then come, follow me.” Jesus is inviting this good man to be better. He is asking him to radically change his life by letting go of his possessions, giving to the poor, and to come and follow him. He is inviting this young man to walk unburdened with him. And together, to proclaim the kingdom of God.
But Jesus is asking too much, and the young man “went away sad, for he had many possessions.” I wonder if he knew that he would never know the joy and freedom of those who follow Jesus. Deep down, I think he did and that is the reason why he left grieving.
What about us? Will we joyfully follow Jesus, or will we walk away sad? The choice is ours. And even though this might feel like an impossible choice, remember: “All things are possible for God.”
Maryknoll Father Joseph Fedora, ordained in 1984, has served in various assignments to Peru, including in HIV/AIDS ministry. He has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and previously worked on the Maryknoll magazines staff.
To read other Scripture reflections published by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, click here.
Featured image: Maryknoll Father Joseph Fedora has spent much of his life as a missionary priest accompanying poor people in Peru, such as this mother and child. (Francisco Suárez/Peru)
