Mark 10:17-27

Sirach 17:20-24

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

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, help me overcome any obstacle that keeps me from entering more fully into your Kingdom. Reign in my heart and my family. Do what seems impossible in my life and guide me as I store up treasure with you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Question about Eternal Life: The encounter of the rich young man with Jesus offers a powerful lesson about our moral and spiritual growth. The young man approaches Jesus with a question about morality, he asks “not so much about rules to be followed, but about the full meaning of life” (John Paul II, Veritatis splendor [VS], 7). The question about the meaning of life echoes a call from God, who is the origin and goal of our life. Morality is not just a question about the moral good we ought to do but about eternal life. “The young man senses that there is a connection between moral good and the fulfillment of his own destiny” (John Paul II, VS, 8). The answer to the question about the good can only be found by turning our mind and heart to the One who is good and the fullness of goodness, “God alone” (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). The young man’s question is a religious question: the goodness that attracts and obliges us has its source in God, who alone is worthy of being loved with all one’s heart, soul, and mind. “Jesus brings the question about morally good action back to its religious foundations, to the acknowledgment of God who alone is goodness, fullness of life, the final end of human activity, and perfect happiness” (John Paul II, VS, 9). 

2. Eternal Life and the Ten Words: What we are and what we must do become clear as soon as God reveals himself. God has inscribed the natural law on the heart of every human being. And also revealed the “ten words,” the Ten Commandments of Mt. Sinai, to Israel (John Paul II, VS, 12). Jesus answers the young man that there is a close connection between eternal life and obedience to God’s commandments: “God’s commandments show man the path of life and they lead to it. From the very lips of Jesus, the new Moses, man is once again given the commandments of the Decalogue” (John Paul II, VS, 12).

3. The Journey to Perfection in the Moral and Spiritual Life: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus affirms that he came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus brings God’s commandments to fulfillment particularly the commandment of love of neighbor, by interiorizing their demands and by bringing out their fullest meaning. “Jesus shows that the commandments must not be understood as a minimum limit not to be gone beyond, but rather as a path involving a moral and spiritual journey towards perfection, at the heart of which is love (see Colossians 3:14). Thus the commandment ‘You shall not murder’ becomes a call to an attentive love which protects and promotes the life of one’s neighbor” (John Paul II, VS, 15). When the young man affirms that he has kept the commandments, but also that he is still far from the goal, Jesus invites him to enter upon the path of perfection. In particular, he directs the young man to the beatitude of the poor, the poor in spirit, the humble. Jesus also invites the young man to imitate and follow him. The Beatitudes are a self-portrait of Christ and are invitations to discipleship and communion of life with Christ (see John Paul II, VS, 16). Perfection demands maturity in self-giving to which human freedom is called (see John Paul II, VS, 17). The call to perfect love is not restricted to a small group of individuals but is an invitation to everyone. The New Law that Jesus gives us is the grace of the Holy Spirit given through faith in Christ. The New Law is not limited to saying what must be done, but also gives the power to do it (see John Paul II, VS, 24).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the New Law. Not only do you hold me to a higher standard, but you empower me to fulfill that standard. Without you, I can do nothing of lasting value. But with you and your grace, I can merit eternal life!

Living the Word of God: How do I envision my moral and spiritual life? Do I see God’s commandments as restrictions on my freedom or as a path to perfection? Are there any of the Ten Commandments I struggle to keep? Am I living out the eight beatitudes (poor in spirit, mournful, meek, just, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaker, persecuted for righteousness’ sake)?