Mark 10:17-31
Princess Diana is quoted as saying, “They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?” I think that explains a lot about today’s gospel reading from Mark.
It’s so hard for us to give up possessions, isn’t it? Even for the tradeoff to be poor and happy; or the bigger tradeoff to get into heaven. This gospel lesson makes me uncomfortable. Because even though I have never considered myself rich, even moderately so, in comparison to much of the world, I am so much more like the rich man turning away in grief than I am anyone else in this story.
Our possessions, our wealth, brings us happiness and security. We surround ourselves with things in our quest for joy not realizing at times that those very things are what prevent joy from embracing us. With our fortresses of material possessions and financial security, we can scarcely move at times, stifling any attempts we may make to follow Jesus on the journey that was referred to at the beginning of the passage from Mark.
So we, like the man in the reading, throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet hoping for an easy answer. I really don’t think that man was looking for an easy compliment in doing that. I believe he, like us, truly wanted to know what else he needed to do to get into heaven. He was a good man and Jesus knew that. A touching, poignant portion of the passage is when Jesus looked at him and loved him. It’s one of the most direct statements about Jesus in scripture. He looked at him and loved him.
Jesus saw and knew what was going on. In spite of that man’s grief Jesus loved him to death, literally. Because he was calling on that man to give everything away. And notice that Jesus didn’t say sell everything and give the proceeds to me so that I can continue my ministry. No, indeed, the money that the man would realize were he to sell his possessions was to go to the poor. And then he could come and follow Jesus.
Unlike Princess Diana, Jesus doesn’t really allow for compromises. There’s no gray area when it comes to giving. It’s all or nothing.
In the movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” which tells the story of a certain man named Francis who lived in Assisi some 800 years ago, there is a pivotal scene in which Francis, born into a wealthy cloth merchant family, renounces his wealth by stripping off his clothes in the town square and heading off into the mountains to begin a life of poverty and service. Francis did what the rich man in the gospel seemingly could not do. And what most of us seemingly cannot do.
But….but I have to wonder. The gospel writer Mark leaves the end of this particular story open with a question mark, I think. Yes it said the rich man went away grieving, but it doesn’t actually say whether the man did do as Jesus said or not. Certainly we can allow him his grief, in giving up all that he possesses. That’s a mighty task and even as unrich as I am, if asked to do the same thing, I would grieve too.
But I keep coming back in my thoughts to that simple statement that Jesus looked at the man and loved him. And that gives me the strength to guess at an answer to that question mark at the end of the story. Because a love that strong is mighty powerful and can cause you to do all sorts of things you wouldn’t do otherwise.
Not too long from now, we’ll regroup ourselves for one of our monthly conversations and this time our conversation is going to revolve around stewardship. Stewardship, meaning what we do with the resources that are put in our charge; our wealth, in other words.
But don’t limit yourselves when you think about your wealth; it’s not just about money or what your bank statements look like. Because true wealth goes deeper than money. True wealth, as we all know, involves family and friends and faith. True wealth is about the talents we possess and the abilities we have innately within us.
Perhaps that’s the part of the rich man that Jesus loved--his abilities and talents for following the law and for leading an upright life. Jesus knew that if the man was going to follow him on the journey before him, he couldn’t be encumbered by the possessions that held him down. Jesus wanted his full wealth...his real wealth on the road with him.
So when you think of stewardship this afternoon, don’t leave here grieving. Go away with joy, grateful for the resources, all the resources, that are in your care.
Princess Diana is quoted as saying, “They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?” I think that explains a lot about today’s gospel reading from Mark.
It’s so hard for us to give up possessions, isn’t it? Even for the tradeoff to be poor and happy; or the bigger tradeoff to get into heaven. This gospel lesson makes me uncomfortable. Because even though I have never considered myself rich, even moderately so, in comparison to much of the world, I am so much more like the rich man turning away in grief than I am anyone else in this story.
Our possessions, our wealth, brings us happiness and security. We surround ourselves with things in our quest for joy not realizing at times that those very things are what prevent joy from embracing us. With our fortresses of material possessions and financial security, we can scarcely move at times, stifling any attempts we may make to follow Jesus on the journey that was referred to at the beginning of the passage from Mark.
So we, like the man in the reading, throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet hoping for an easy answer. I really don’t think that man was looking for an easy compliment in doing that. I believe he, like us, truly wanted to know what else he needed to do to get into heaven. He was a good man and Jesus knew that. A touching, poignant portion of the passage is when Jesus looked at him and loved him. It’s one of the most direct statements about Jesus in scripture. He looked at him and loved him.
Jesus saw and knew what was going on. In spite of that man’s grief Jesus loved him to death, literally. Because he was calling on that man to give everything away. And notice that Jesus didn’t say sell everything and give the proceeds to me so that I can continue my ministry. No, indeed, the money that the man would realize were he to sell his possessions was to go to the poor. And then he could come and follow Jesus.
Unlike Princess Diana, Jesus doesn’t really allow for compromises. There’s no gray area when it comes to giving. It’s all or nothing.
In the movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” which tells the story of a certain man named Francis who lived in Assisi some 800 years ago, there is a pivotal scene in which Francis, born into a wealthy cloth merchant family, renounces his wealth by stripping off his clothes in the town square and heading off into the mountains to begin a life of poverty and service. Francis did what the rich man in the gospel seemingly could not do. And what most of us seemingly cannot do.
But….but I have to wonder. The gospel writer Mark leaves the end of this particular story open with a question mark, I think. Yes it said the rich man went away grieving, but it doesn’t actually say whether the man did do as Jesus said or not. Certainly we can allow him his grief, in giving up all that he possesses. That’s a mighty task and even as unrich as I am, if asked to do the same thing, I would grieve too.
But I keep coming back in my thoughts to that simple statement that Jesus looked at the man and loved him. And that gives me the strength to guess at an answer to that question mark at the end of the story. Because a love that strong is mighty powerful and can cause you to do all sorts of things you wouldn’t do otherwise.
Not too long from now, we’ll regroup ourselves for one of our monthly conversations and this time our conversation is going to revolve around stewardship. Stewardship, meaning what we do with the resources that are put in our charge; our wealth, in other words.
But don’t limit yourselves when you think about your wealth; it’s not just about money or what your bank statements look like. Because true wealth goes deeper than money. True wealth, as we all know, involves family and friends and faith. True wealth is about the talents we possess and the abilities we have innately within us.
Perhaps that’s the part of the rich man that Jesus loved--his abilities and talents for following the law and for leading an upright life. Jesus knew that if the man was going to follow him on the journey before him, he couldn’t be encumbered by the possessions that held him down. Jesus wanted his full wealth...his real wealth on the road with him.
So when you think of stewardship this afternoon, don’t leave here grieving. Go away with joy, grateful for the resources, all the resources, that are in your care.
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