Mark 10:17-30
Gospel according to Mark 10:17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother." He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is 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." They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus said, "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: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
Reflections
Today’s Gospel begins with the story of a rich man. He comes to Jesus, falls to his knees, and sincerely implores Him to teach what is necessary to inherit eternal life. This display of honesty is in stark contrast to the Pharisees, who usually tried to trick Jesus or trap Him with a controversial question. While the Pharisees only sought to detract from the Good News of Jesus’ Ministry, this man came to listen earnestly for the essence of His teachings. In this moment, we are reminded to reflect on the questions we are asking about our faith. Are we truly seeking to understand, or are we only trying to undermine it out of the hardness of our hearts? By choosing to open ourselves to the teachings of the Catholic faith, we are brought into a space where we can truly answer to the call of Jesus.
Jesus proceeds to question the man regarding the last six of the Ten Commandments. These commandments specifically focus on our relationships with others. This moment, in which Jesus’ response is not unlike what we would expect from a Rabbi, demonstrates His ministry as a fulfillment of the Law of Moses, rather than a replacement for it. Through His New Covenant, Jesus brings us into a deeper understanding of God’s will. He teaches that it is not enough to just blindly follow the rules, and instead beckons us to embody the true essence of His commandments.
Jesus then states that the one thing the man is missing is poverty of spirit, and commands him to sell all of his possessions. This is a poignant lesson, and one that the rich man was not expecting. Jesus is not directly condemning wealth itself, but rather our attachment to it. This interaction demonstrates our tendency to find a false sense of safety in our physical possessions. We are prompted to reflect on what we may need to surrender such that we may truly follow Jesus. Are our hearts trusting in God’s Providence, or are they anchored in false, worldly material security?
The disciples then question Jesus regarding who can be saved. Jesus states that entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is beyond the capability of human effort, but anything can be made possible with God. As such, it is only through the humble acceptance of God’s mercy that we may be made worthy to enter into His Kingdom.
Finally, Jesus assures His followers that none of their worldly sacrifices are in vain. He guarantees that anyone who gives up their life for His sake, proclaims His message, and endures persecution, will be rewarded a hundredfold in the age to come. Jesus promises eternal life to His followers, serving as a beacon of hope for all believers that none of our efforts and sacrifices will go unnoticed. By following Jesus through our trials, we are promised everlasting treasure that surpasses anything on Earth.
Today’s Gospel, in summary, invites us to reflect on the values of honesty and poverty in spirit, the necessity of Divine Intercession, and the promise of eternal life. We are called to find the courage to let go of our earthly attachments, and in doing so, to accept the transformative power of Jesus’ love.