RBWords

     The young man with many possessions in today's gospel scripture from Mark has kept the commandments.  He has truly good intentions, but he cannot see beyond the possessions and the rules.  Indeed, the gospel today (the long version) has Peter really asking about this very thing.  He and the other disciples have "given up everything" to follow Jesus, but are wondering what they will "get" in return!  The skeptic would say, "You can't eat wisdom or faith."  Jesus promises many good things along with persecution!  The most important things are intangible but can be experienced:  love, wisdom, eternal life!  The skeptic would say, "Don't quit your day job!"

     Over and over again Jesus tells the disciples that he is the one in whom they can place their hopes.  It is difficult to "let go" of what we consider "certain" to follow someone who demands our complete devotion and commitment!  That just doesn't seem "wise" or "prudent."  What is being asked of us is that we see everything else in the light of that commitment, whether it be possessions, ideas, activities and all the "et ceteras" of our lives!  "Treasure in heaven" was just not certain enough for the young man with many possessions.  In order to have "wisdom" he had to give up what his own culture and world considered "wise and successful."  This is still true.  We can be seduced by the "gospel of success and prosperity" to the point that we turn Jesus into a kind of C.E.O. of a spiritual company in which we believe we have lots of shares!  This is not the model of the gospel!  It is an uncomfortable experience to put ourselves in the shoes of that young man or those of the disciples in today's gospel.  But a wise preacher once said that the purpose of the gospel is "to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."  Which ones are we?  AMEN