We are familiar with stories like those of Saint Francis and Saint Ignatius who went through dramatic conversion experiences and literally gave everything they had to the poor. Those sorts of examples likely come to mind when we hear today’s Gospel (Mk 10:17-30). But where does that leave us? We are probably more like the young man with many possessions. Are we going to be able to get into the kingdom of God?
The first answer is no! – if we imagine that getting into the kingdom is something we achieve by our own efforts. Jesus makes this point over and over. Getting into the kingdom isn’t something we do, it is something God gives us. It’s a gift, not an achievement. It’s not even a reward – as Paul pointed out, God saved us while we were still sinners (Rom 5-8).
This is clear in Jesus’ reaction to the young man. He doesn’t say: well that’s a great start, now to get over the finish line you just have to do this bit more. He’s not coaching a marathon. He looks at the young man and loves him. He offers the final gift, to be perfect now, perfectly happy, perfectly at peace, traveling with Jesus in daily intimacy. And the young man can’t take that gift. It’s too much of a disruption to his life.
But the young man is not condemned. Jesus already confirmed he does what is necessary. He follows the Commandments. Jesus is not raising the bar for salvation, but he is pointing out (as he often does) that money and possessions and our need for security pull us one way and the love of God is trying to pull us a different way.
But if we don’t have the capability to make the radical break of Francis or Ignatius, to take the offer made to the young man, what then? There is a risk in the heroic stories we enjoy that we imagine life is about binary choices or outcomes – you are perfect or a nothing, an Olympic champion or a couch potato, saved or damned. At first it seems like this Gospel plays into that view.
But then comes blessed Peter, wading in feet-first! “Hey, but what about us, we’re the good guys yes, we’re going to be ok, yes?”
And Jesus says “for sure, whatever you do is great, don’t worry”, and Mark might have added once more “It’s not about you!!”
Everyone is in a different place, everyone is facing their own challenges, everyone can do something to get closer to God. Not everyone is “lacking in just one thing” – most of us have quite a few things on that list. Just work at one of them. And remember that even if we don’t make a whole lot of progress it’s not dependent on us. If it were, then we’d have a problem. But Jesus reassured us: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Thank God for that…