|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Amos 5:6–7,10–15 |
Psalm 90:12–17 |
Hebrews 4:12–16 |
Mark 190:17–31 |
One of my favorite stories is about a group of young campers. They are about to go on a hike with an old Adirondack guide who promises to show them a hidden 100 foot waterfall, a field of wild orchids in bloom, and lead them up a mountain where they will be able to see at least forty lakes, thirty other mountain peaks and maybe even the ocean itself. Before setting off, everyone is invited to take a handful of trail mix from a jar. They begin to line up, save one who still has his hand in the narrow necked jar of trail mix. Over and over he thrusts his hand into the jar and grabs a huge handful of mix, but when he tries to pull his hand out, it is too full, and his fist always gets stuck. He tries to do it quickly, he tries it slowly, he tries his other hand, he tries it with the jar at different angles, but the result is always the same. He can’t get his large fist full of mix out of the jar. “Come, on” say his buddies. “Just take a smaller amount, forget trying to set a record, our lunch is packed anyway, you won’t starve, and we are all ready to go.” “No, no,” the frustrated lad replies. “I know I can do it, just one more try, I know I can get my full fist out, just a few seconds more, and I will be able to do it. Please don’t leave me behind, just wait a bit longer. I won’t go until I get it.”
I wonder if someone like that boy grew up to be the rich man in Jesus’ parable. The rich man seemed to have been very sincere and conscientious. Jesus recognized his potential as a promising disciple. Part of the rich man wanted to follow Jesus, but a larger force held him back. He was stuck, he would not let go or relax his grip from whatever he valued in the jar that defined his world.
It is important for us to understand that Jesus was not simply giving the man a difficult task and saying, in effect, “Once you are successful in this test, you will prove yourself worthy and be let in.” Jesus’ intent was not to make the man the super do-gooder of Judea, so that he would become an example to all the fat cats of the land. Jesus knew how easy it was to delude oneself into thinking one has the means to purchase and even manipulate God’s grace.
Sadly, the man just turned away, captive and bound by his own making. He feared to stay around Jesus any longer, and chose not to hear anything more. If only the rich man had stayed. He might have been astonished by Jesus’ words like the disciples were, and protested, “But I can’t change and be so completely transformed, it is impossible”. Then perhaps he would have understood the answer Jesus gave to his disciples. “Of course not! You cannot do this all on your own, no one can, but trust God working in you to do amazing things that will really astonish you! Remember your scriptures. God can move mountains, build highways in deserts, and provide gushing streams of water in parched valleys. What is so hard or incomprehensible for us is not for God. Don’t sell the Holy Spirit short!”
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was when we made our first big move as a family to a completely new part of the country. As the moving van was loading up, I was told to take all the good memories of this place, and the birth certificates of growth with you, but leave all resentments, slights, and insults behind at the curb for the trash. Don’t pack up and carry garbage of the past or it will continue to stink up your life.
When you move with Jesus you travel light. You let Jesus help you discard the stone idols and demons that make your feet feel like lead. You let the Gospel melt the icy covering around your heart. You hear the call of other people of faith telling you to stop worrying about what you are trying to grasp in that small little glass jar of yours. You let God lead you up a mountain to breathe in the alpine air and to see forty lakes, thirty other mountain peaks, and maybe even the ocean itself.
And
I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
