Gospel Reflection on Mark 10, 17-30, by Fr Jason Smith LC
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.”
It struck me this morning while celebrating Mass that we ask God for mercy eight times. Are we really that bad?
If we think we are indeed pretty good, or at least on the correct path, today’s Gospel gives all of us enough reason to tremble, especially if we take Jesus at his word.
A young man approaches Jesus who has observed all of the commandments from his youth. The Lord raises the bar and asks him to empty himself of everything he owns. At least at this moment—we don’t know what happens later on—he does not have the strength to do so.
Then the Lord begins his demanding teaching on wealth: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples can’t believe it or don’t want to believe it.
Jesus raises the bar even higher: “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.” In other words wealth compared to the Kingdom of God is like fitting a square peg into a round hole.
Still perplexed the disciples come back again. Seriously Lord? Jesus responds by raising the bar as high as it can possibly go: “For human beings it is impossible; only with God is it possible.” Yes, children, seriously. No wiggle room here.
Suddenly our eight petitions for mercy at the beginning of Sunday Mass seems remarkably few. Do I take Jesus’ teaching on wealth seriously? Have I applied it to how I live and to what I love?
I mean, do we pity those who are wealthy because without God’s mercy it is impossible for them to reach the Kingdom of God? If I get a raise or win the lottery or when I go shopping, do I do so with a little trepidation, taking into account that these things could in fact make it more difficult for me to enter the Kingdom of God? When we take into account that even the poorest among us today (at least in “first world countries”) are wealthier than the average person during Jesus’ time, where food, water, housing, and medicine was sparse, it makes us reflect on this teaching even more.
Why is Jesus so demanding on wealth? What could possibly be wrong with it?
The truth is that the more things that clutter our life the more our heart wants to cling to them and not to God. The more we chase after money the less we chase after God. Today’s Gospel reminds us of that. Even though goods and wealth are not evil in themselves, they will vie for first place before God. Jesus is asking us today, “Are you strong enough to keep them in second place?” In this sense we realize that there is a continual war for our hearts; they are in a sense “Battle Ground States.”
It’s important to make it clear that Jesus is not saying, “Blessed are those who are destitute.” Rather, he is calling us to a love-filled and sharing frugality and to a simplicity of life where our hearts are free to love God and neighbor.
Do we love God and neighbor more than the material things in our lives? If so we will be filled extraordinarily by God’s goodness in this life and the next. In the meantime, faced with Jesus’ demanding teaching, let us pray for mercy with all our being.
For a balanced and enlightening read on wealth, detachment, and poverty, especially for laymen and women, I wholeheartedly recommend Father Thomas Dubay’s book, “Happy Are You Poor.”
Biltrix 
beautiful reflection.
Thanks, Reinkat!
I went through a phase in my Journey, where I was deeply troubled by the fact that we ask for our Lord’s pardon for our sinfulness so many times during Mass. We are fallen beings, and no matter how hard we try we will always make mistakes, always sin. I understand it now. But it was a hard nut to crack for me personally. Thanks for the book recommendation.
You are not the only one who has had this experience. I have talked to a lot of people who had a difficult time dealing with it, interiorly. When we take it as a call to holiness, recognize the great gift of our Lord’s mercy, and accept our own situation with deeper humility, it transforms and enlightens our path, making it easier and sweeter to follow. God bless!
Spot on, as usual.
Beautifully said!!
Thank you! God bless!
This is a beautiful reflection. But the thoughts in mind is intellectually agreeing with you, but it is showing a sign of caution to practice it in life. I will be grateful if you could clarify my thought with regard of practising it. Because today’s world most of the time understand only the language of money. Even I am afraid to say that a good number of relationships (even blood relations) are based on wealth.
So how do I really practice this. Is it enough that I mentally acknowledge this virtue/principle or is it needed to be practised. If so, how do I practice it when a larger part of the world is money oriented?
It goes back to what the Lord said. Indeed, it is a difficult teaching and impossible to practice without God. The heart of this Gospel passage is in the Lord’s call: He looked at the young man and loved him; then called him give up his earthly possessions and follow him. It was sad for the young man and for Jesus when he found that his material attachments were so enthralling that he could not give them up to “save his life.” Yet we also have the witness of those who have given up everything for the happier life, and what a testimony they have given us!
Thanks for the comment and God bless!