Since You Asked

Mark 10:17-31
Thursday, 13 March 2008

I had occasion today to talk with a young woman who had called me asking for my advice. As soon as she began her story, I knew that what I was going to say was not going to be what she wanted to hear. She called me because she wanted me to tell her something deep and spiritual. I told her that she needed to confront the dysfunctional situation directly and get rid of the baggage.

Jesus is in motion beginning another journey when a young man intercepts him. The young man asks a question that is in many ways perceptive. He knows enough about Jesus to consider him an authority on spiritual and eternal matters. He even knows enough to ask on his knees. Basically, he asks "How do I make it in?" Jesus' initial answer reinforces what he already knows and confirms what he expects. Obeying the commandments? Check. And in truth the young man does do well. He is honorable and observant, kind to parents and aboveboard in his approach to others. "One thing you still lack," Jesus says, for Jesus knows the deepest failure and the deepest need of the young man's life. He has a lot of stuff. And the stuff he has tethers him to the world. He walks away downcast.

We often approach Jesus with perceptive questions, hoping that Jesus will either tell us that all of our ducks are in order and our ticket is properly punched or that what little we lack is either not that important or something we are apt to do. Most of the time when we open ourselves enough to hear Christ's answer, we are disappointed as he shines his light on the remaining idols of our lives, the stuff that we love in competition with our love for right and light. But since we asked him, the ball is now in our court. Will we walk away and die in sorrow or we will unload our baggage and rise into blessed light?

Sing "Jesus is all the World to Me"
Let us pray:

God who searches the heart, although the lesson of the rich young man teaches us to do so with fear and trembling, we come today to ask you the relevant question. What must we do to inherit eternal life? Are there areas of our hearts, minds, spirits that are uncommitted to you? Are there persons, places, or things that we set as idols? Shine the light of truth upon us. Help us to walk away from idols and walk in that light, through Jesus who gave up everything first. Amen