Mark 10:17-27

1 Peter 1:3-9

Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c

Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,

knelt down before him, and asked him,

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?

No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments: You shall not kill;

you shall not commit adultery;

you shall not steal;

you shall not bear false witness;

you shall not defraud;

honor your father and your mother.”

He replied and said to him,

“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,

“You are lacking in one thing.

Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor

and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

At that statement, his face fell,

and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,

“How hard it is for those who have wealth

to enter the Kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words.

So Jesus again said to them in reply,

“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!

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.”

They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,

“Then who can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said,

“For men it is impossible, but not for God.

All things are possible for God.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are all-knowing and all-powerful. You can do all things and are the author of my salvation. Take what I offer up to you in humility and transform it into a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice. I only desire to enter your Kingdom and inherit eternal life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Gift of Salvation: In the Gospel, salvation is presented as “inheriting eternal life” and as “entering the Kingdom of God.” The man with many possessions realizes that Jesus is a good teacher who can teach him how to inherit eternal life. He has been faithfully following the Old Law and the Ten Commandments, but Jesus teaches him that it is not enough. The man still lacks something important. The man is too attached to his earthly possessions and to the things of this passing world. He prefers treasure on earth to treasure in heaven. He prefers to keep his things and greedily hold on to them rather than use them for the good of others. When the man turns away from Jesus and returns to his many things, Jesus declares that it is hard for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. Salvation is impossible from a merely human or natural point of view. But it is possible for God. Salvation and entry into God’s Kingdom depend primarily on the goodness of God who freely offers it to us as a gift (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 205). God is so generous and takes the little we do, and we are moved by the help of grace – such as giving to the poor – and repays us beyond what we deserve. The Psalm gives us the hope that if we follow the commandments, detach ourselves from this world, and serve the poor, then we will rejoice in songs of divine praise and thanksgiving as our feet cross the threshold of the New Jerusalem.

2. Divine Benefits: In the First Reading, we begin our sequential reading of the First Letter of Peter. The Letter was written not to a particular Church, but to Christians living in the five provinces of Asia Minor. The Letter opens with “a Trinitarian description of how the Christian people are called and redeemed” (Keating, First and Second Peter, Jude, 28). We have been chosen by the Father who knew us from all eternity, we have been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit. In the passage we read today, Peter praises God the Father for the two benefits we have received. First, for our new birth through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Second, for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. This inheritance is eternal life.

3. Which Inheritance will we choose? We could say that this inheritance is at the heart of today’s Gospel: Will we choose an earthly inheritance or a heavenly one? It should be pointed out that even though the rich young man is living according to the basic commands of God; he still lacks one thing – detachment from material things. This detachment is the condition for following Jesus. The rich young man went away sad because he knew that he was choosing the wrong path. Those, however, who choose Christ over possessions, rejoice because they are on the way to attaining salvation, which is the goal of faith. We are sojourners walking by the light of faith. Faith, however, is only the beginning of the vision of God that awaits us.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are able to point out what I still lack. You invite me each day to sell what I have and give to the poor and store up treasure in heaven with the Father. Enlighten my mind to know what I need to give up and give me the courage and strength to follow through.

Living the Word of God: When I examine my conscience before the Sacrament of Reconciliation, do I only review the Ten Commandments? Or do I also look at my attachments to the things of this world, how I am serving the poor, and how I am following Jesus? What attachments do I have that are keeping me from entering more fully into God’s Kingdom?