“The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.” Hebrews 4: 12-13
“Jesus, looking at the rich young man, 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.” Mark 10: 17-30
The description of the word of God given to us today by the writer of Hebrews implies that it is meant to cut into us and prod us to change the way in which we live our lives. If I take God’s word seriously, it will disturb my comfort. Yet, week after week, I can read, hear and ponder the Sunday readings without allowing them to change me significantly. Yet, God has blessed me and everyone else I know with gifts that, used responsibly and creatively, will help me to grow. Moreover, one of those gifts is a capacity to engage with God’s word in Scripture and to respond in ways that will contribute to building the kingdom of God and to helping others to grow. That’s the challenge for all of us inherent in today’s second reading from Hebrews.
The gospel-reading is part of the “liturgy of the Word” in our Eucharistic celebration and is followed by the homily, which is essentially a commentary on and an elucidation of the readings. Then, following the Eucharistic Prayer and the Communion Rite, we are dismissed by the presiding priest with words like: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord…glorifying God by your life.” In other words, we are urged to put into action, by the way we live and engage with the people we encounter, what we have absorbed from the readings and homily. Moreover, we are to take to our world the Lord we have received in the Eucharist, sharing his goodness and love in action.
Now, as we step back to look closely at today’s gospel reading, I suggest it is Mark’s way of putting into the mouth of Jesus a summary of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus had set out on the road to Jerusalem – a journey which would take him to condemnation, torture and execution for no other reason than for the way he had lived and spoken with complete integrity.
Jesus’ progress was halted by a young man who had come running after him. We can only guess at why he was late in approaching Jesus. He might have been summoning up courage to speak to the itinerant rabbi whom he had heard or only heard about. He might well have been afraid of what Jesus might say to him. But he came to Jesus with deference and respect, addressing him as “Good master”. Jesus declined the attribution of goodness to himself, explaining that only God could be described as good. His response to the young man was probably for the benefit of critics in the crowd of onlookers who might have been looking for evidence to bring against him. Jesus’ words were meant to make it clear that God alone is good and the very source of goodness. When Jesus proceeded to explain that living authentically involved keeping the commandments that Moses had put to their ancestors and that were recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy, the young man responded, without a hint of boasting, that he had been faithful to what Moses had proclaimed. Jesus could not help being touched by the young man’s sincerity and saw in him such potential that he invited him without hesitation to join him on the road, after selling up his property and giving the proceeds to the poor and needy. Jesus’ demand was too much for the young man, who withdrew in disappointment.
All of this, together with Jesus’ comment on attachment to wealth and possessions, adds up to Mark’s teaching for his community of what is involved for those who want to be followers of Jesus. In essence, this gospel-reading spells out what is essential for living a Christian vocation. Clearly, for Mark and for Jesus, attachment to wealth, possessions and prejudices is an obstacle to Christian discipleship. True disciples must have a light grasp on whatever the world has to offer.
Today’s gospel-reading and recent readings from the Letter of James remind us that early Christian communities were no more free of contention, controversy and disagreement than our contemporary Church communities are. The early Church had to deal with the divisiveness that can arise when the poor and the rich have to live and pray side by side. Today’s gospel reading presents Jesus throwing up his hands in frustration and disappointment on seeing the hold that money and possessions can have even on good people. It is not simply the fact that some people in a community are wealthy as it is the fact that wealth can create a wall of separation between the well off and those less well off, such that they become distasteful to one another. Jesus suggested that unity in communities where such division reigns can be brought about only by God.
I don’t want to suggest that Jesus and Mark are suggesting that we should embark on a process of turning ourselves into paupers. We would do well, however, to be alert to whatever can build walls of division in our local Christian communities and in our Church at large. We need to keep reminding ourselves that the gifts that we all have are God-given and for the benefit and enrichment of all. With that in mind, we can leave the last word to Pope Francis who, in his Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exultate, published in 2018, stated:
“The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them.” (#11)
Let’s not ignore the fact that it is not only inequality of possessions that can create division. Jesus himself had to call his own disciples into line when they were carried away with their ambitions for status, power, competition and self-importance. What is it that gets in my way, in your way?
