“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?... 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." (Mk.10:17,21)
A person comes to Jesus and asks him this crucial question. He is really asking “What must I do to have meaning in my life.” Jesus‘response is to remind him of the basic good that he is called to in the commandments. When the person presses further, Jesus offers a further response.
The further response is direction to make life meaningful now and to truly live the message and mission of Jesus. It is the message of the Kingdom of God, a reign of God for the benefit of all, especially for the poor and the vulnerable.
The Kingdom is a call to every Christian, in fact it is a call to all humanity to accept the message of love and compassion that is to be found in God’s reign, God’s dream for our world. It will demand a great openness from each person and each nation, a readiness to accept that we are all people of God born of God’s creating, life-giving love. Thus, we are truly our sister’s and brother’s keepers, called to care and compassion for all.
In Mark’s Gospel both the person asking the question “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” and the disciples who were following Jesus found themselves challenged by his response. Their thinking was transactional, i.e. they must do something in order to receive something. How often do we find ourselves with the same thinking?
As the conversation continues, Jesus shocks them (and us?). For the disciples (and us?), heaven and the prospect of gaining God’s love has to be earned or won. As Jesus advises them to sell what they have and give the money to the poor, it appears to be more than they could possibly do.
Jesus’s response to their shock is to show he understands their quandary: “For humans it is impossible, but not for God; for God, all things are possible.” This is reassurance for all. Heaven is not earned, nor is God love. All is gift. Gods love is unconditional. It is not about winning or losing, it is about being open and receptive of this love.
Perhaps all of this is at the base of our challenge. Often it is difficult to receive love, particularly if we have a transactional mentality. We behave in a way that allows us to justify or pay for the love we receive. As Mark tells the story, the person who asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life could not grasp the response. The openness to Jesus response and the demand he heard was beyond him.
The spiritual writer, Anthony de Mello. Song of the Bird tells this story. In the 19th century, a tourist from the States visited the famous Polish rabbi, Hafez Hayyim. He was astonished to see that the rabbi’s home had only one single room filled with books. The only furniture was a table and a bench.
Rabbi, ‘where is your furniture’? asked the tourist.
‘Where is yours?’ replied Hafez.
‘Mine? But I’m only a visitor here.’
‘So am I.’ said the rabbi.
Quoted by, John Shea. The Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels for Christian Preachers and Teachers Year B 250
As we celebrate our Thanksgiving this weekend, may we express our gratitude to God for all of life and love as gift. May we respond to the call that makes God’s dream of the fullness of life available to all.
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