28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 10-10-2021

 Wis 7:7-11.  Ps 90.  Heb 4:12-11.  Mk 10:17-30

Deacon Jim McFadden

Today’s Gospel, taken from Mark, chapter 10, is a narrative divided into three scenes—all them punctuated by the gaze of Jesus.

            The first scene presents an encounter between Jesus the Teacher and a young man who runs up, knelt down before him and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17).  ‘Eternal life’ just doesn’t pertain to the afterlife, but is a life that is a full life, fulfilled, without limitations.  And, since this Gospel is directed to us, what must we do to achieve it?  Jesus’ initial response was to have him follow the Law, especially the Ten Commandments.  In this regard the young man was beyond reproach. But,  obedience to the Law is a good starting point,  I think Jesus was preparing the young man to go to a deeper level of faith.  When the young man said that he was already doing all of that, you could almost sense a sigh of relief.  But, following the Law does not really address the deepest yearning the young man bears in his heart.  For this reason Jesus’  response is expressed in an intense gaze, filled with tenderness and love.  The Gospel thus says: “(Jesus) looking upon him loved him” (v. 21).  Jesus realized that he was a good young man as he was diligent in following the commandments and the rules of their Jewish faith.  But our Lord knows that genuine Faith is more than following them.  It was as if Jesus was saying to the young man, “You’re trying hard, you’re playing by the rules but you’re just at the beginning of the spiritual journey into love, surrender, and communion.  Jesus understood the young man’s weakness, and offered him a practical proposal: to give all his possessions to the poor and follow Him.  The young man was able to keep the Laws, but when Jesus asked for more, he wasn’t quite ready to make the necessary sacrifices that were involved.  Why?  The young man’s heart was divided between two masters: God and money, and “he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (v. 22).  This shows in no uncertain terms, that faith and attachment to riches cannot coexist.  Thus the young man’s enthusiasm is dampened in the unhappiness of one who’s soul has been given to the goods of the world.

            In the second scene  Mark frames the eyes of Jesus, and this time it is a pensive gaze, one of caution, that is directed to his disciples.  We hear “Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 23).  The disciples were flabbergasted.  Though not rich themselves, they probably desired some level of comfort, security, material well-being.  So, they talked among themselves and wondered, “Then who can be saved?”  (v. 26). 

            Jesus responds with an encouraging gaze—the third one—and says: salvation, yes, “with men it is impossible, but not for God.  All things are possible for God” (v. 27).  If we trust in the Lord, we can overcome our attachment to wealth and all other obstacles that impede us from following him along the path of Faith which leads us to happiness and the fulfillment of our destiny.  Trust in the Lord that he is the beginning and end of our lives…that he is Life itself.  If we give our lives over to him, he will give us the strength to stay on the journey; he will give us salvation, and he will accompany us every step of the way.

            And, now we arrive at the third scene, that of Jesus’ very solemn declaration: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age” (vs. 29-30).  This ‘hundredfold’  is comprised of things we were originally attached to, but shall be restored and multiplied ad infinitum.  In detaching ourselves from the goods of the world, we receive in exchange the comfort of the Ultimate Good.  Freed from the slavery of being attached to things of this world, we earn the freedom of serving the Lord and neighbor out of love. In renouncing possessions as the source of our happiness, we acquire the joy of giving our lives away.  As Jesus puts it, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”  (Acts 20:35).

            The young man did not allow himself to be conquered by Jesus’ loving gaze, and thus was unable to change. It’s a radical ‘either-or’ choice: only by accepting with humble gratitude the love of the Lord do we free ourselves from the seduction of idols and the blindness of our illusion that we can find happiness outside of our relationship with God.  Money, success, pleasure, and power—sure they all dazzle and beguile, but eventually they disappoint: they promise life, but they can’t deliver because they can’t love us unconditionally and eternally; so, all they bring is death—death of our soul that is attached to the goods of the world. The Lord is calling us to detach ourselves from these false riches in order to enter true life—the full, authentic, and complete life. 

            Jesus is inviting us into a journey of intimacy, communion, and surrender.  It starts with a gaze.   Have we felt Jesus’ gaze upon us?  Do we want to go forward with the joy that Jesus alone gives us or with the sadness of heart that worldly attachments offer us.  What will we do?  Do we accept his invitation or refuse? Amen.