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The Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
October 11,
2009 The Rev. William Van Oss, Rector
Readings
A college star basketball player went up to Jesus and asked: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Go to the local playground and help set up an afterschool program for kids at risk.” The basketball star’s face fell, and he went away sad, because his focus was on the making it to the pros. The owner of a small business asked Jesus: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “Go and create job opportunities for those who have lost their jobs and whose families are struggling.” The business owner’s face fell, and he went away sad, because he was barely keeping his own company going. A woman who had just buried her sister who had died of cancer asked Jesus: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” With great compassion for her, Jesus said, “Go, put aside your grief for your dear sister and give your time to help raise money for cancer research.” The woman’s face fell, and she went away sad, because the loss of her sister was still too painful. A young man, blessed with gifts and feeling the need for something deeper in his life asked Jesus: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “go and start a youth group in your parish: and the young man’s face fell, because he was just too busy.
“What must I do to inherit eternal life? Is the man’s question to Jesus in today’s Gospel. The man is searching, searching for something more in his life. Rather surprising, don’t you think? The man has a lot going for him, he is a good man. He keeps the commandments, he doesn’t do harm, he doesn’t steal, he is honest and respectful; he is good.
He is also blessed with material things and at the time of Jesus riches were seen as a reward, as evidence of some kind of special divine favor and the opposite was also the case, the poor were viewed as being punished by God thus the man’s struggle, as a favored one, in being asked to give his rewards to the disadvantaged; for they must have done something to deserve their condition.
This is a story about a man who seemingly has everything and yet he knows there is something missing. He knows he should be happy, but he is not. he is still searching for something. Being good; keeping the commandments has brought him to the threshold of the kingdom of God, but he is not quite in.
There is one thing he needs to do, he needs to get rid of whatever prevents him from fully embracing the love of God. He needs to get rid of what stands in the way of deep, full communion with God and his neighbor. The Gospel tells us that “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” Jesus saw the love in him, but the man did not see it in himself, because he was so busy storing up earthly treasures, he missed the reign of God standing in front of him. He missed the man of perfect love, Jesus Christ, standing before him, inviting him to a new life, to a life of discipleship.
Preoccupied and distracted by possessions, Jesus goes on to use the man as an example of why it is so difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. It’s about freedom; being free enough to let go of whatever stands in the way of a fuller, deeper embrace of the reign of God; the love of god. Letting go of whatever prevents us from saying yes to and living out the gift of love Christ came to bring.
For the young man in the Gospel, the barrier was wealth and possessions, but there are many things that can get in the way of living the fullness of life; anger, resentments, drugs and alcohol, power and control, or the things illustrated in the examples I gave at the beginning: ambition, fear, grief and busyness. All of these things, and many others can stand in the way of the fullness of life, of tasting the love that we have been given through Jesus Christ. “Let go” Jesus says, let go of whatever holds you back from saying yes to the fullness of life, that’s the reign of God, fullness of life.
There is an old story, I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but the story goes that the way you catch monkeys in the jungle is to anchor a small box to a tree. There is a hole in the side of the box that’s just a bit smaller than a monkey’s fist. A large nut is placed inside the box, and the monkey comes along, sees the nut through the hole, reaches in and grabs it and then doesn’t let go. Even when the captors approach, the monkey keeps hanging on and can’t run away because it won’t let go of the nut.
That’s the rich young man in the Gospel, Jesus comes along inviting him to discipleship and to new life and he can’t let go and follow. Let’s take some time this week to reflect on what God is calling us to let go of. What holds you back? What prevents you from being free enough to say yes to the offer of new and eternal life? Pray for open hearts and unclenched fists. Amen.