Loving God, you invite us to receive your kingdom like children, knowing that we rely on you for all that is good.  Break down any barriers that prevent us from experiencing the fullness of your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Most people, upon hearing today’s gospel, start coming up with all of the reasons why it doesn’t apply to them.  After all, surely Jesus was just talking to this one, really rich guy?  And so, we say to ourselves things like: “Well, we’re not wealthy or rich.  If we gave everything away, how would we live?  Surely Jesus didn’t mean that everybody should sell everything and give it to the poor.”  After all, some people hold on to their stuff more tightly than others.  For some, however, it is just like that seed that fell among the thorns, and eternal life just gets choked right out of the picture.

          When we look carefully at today’s gospel, there are at least a couple of misconceptions that are addressed by Jesus.  The first misconception is that we can actually do something to inherit eternal life.  This was, in fact, a popular notion among religious people at that time.  Keeping all of the commandments was the gold standard for attaining eternal life – or, as some people say these days, being a good person.  However, Jesus blows those assumptions right out of the water.

          First off, he makes it clear that none of us can be a good person.  “No one is good but God alone” (Mk. 10:18).  As for the commandments, Jesus begins by naming some of the more important ones, including “you shall not defraud,” because that is how many people attained their wealth.  However, in spite of the fact that this man has kept all of these commandments, it is not enough.  “Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor…then come, follow me” (Mk. 10:21).

          In giving these instructions, Jesus addresses another common misconception that some people still hold.  People believed that personal wealth was a sign of God’s favour (Stoffregen) – going all the way back to people like Jacob and Solomon.  And then, along comes Jesus, who says, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mk. 10:23).  Why? – For one thing, those who are rich aren’t used to depending on anybody else, and so they have a hard time learning to depend on God.  At the same time, many are quite attached to their possessions, and essentially love their stuff more than they love God.

          However, lest we still believe that none of this applies to us, Jesus makes it clear that it is difficult for anybody to enter the kingdom of God.  You can’t do it by keeping all of the commandments.  You can’t do it based on your wealth.  You can’t do it by being good.  “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mk. 10:24).  All of this leads the disciples to ask, “Then who can be saved?”

          Jesus replies, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible” (Mk. 10:27).  Whew!  So where does all of this leave us?  Well, for one thing, there is so much to give thanks for today, beginning with the gift of salvation.  God does not save us because we have earned it, but because Jesus earned it for us, and offers salvation to all those who put their trust in him.

          We also are invited to give thanks for all of those things that we do have – and especially for food and shelter and clothing – the necessities of life.  In addition, we might wish to give thanks for this place – this house of worship – and for all those who gather therein.  I am thankful for you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who strive to be faithful and to share the love of God with as many people as possible.  I am thankful for Jesus, our great high priest, who gives us access to God’s grace and mercy (Heb. 4).  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, who continues to be at work in God’s people and in the world.

          In response to all of these gifts, we are called to lives of sacrifice, and generosity, and love.  Sacrifice (which Peter asks about at the end) involves giving up something that is valued for the sake of something that is even more valuable – in this case, following Jesus, the Saviour of the world.  The man in today’s gospel wasn’t able to do it.  Are there things that we might need to sacrifice in order to be faithful servants of Christ?

          As for generosity, it involves letting go of some of our attachments, and recognizing that all of it has come from God in the first place.  In fact, maybe one of the best ways to give thanks is by giving to those who are most in need – to the poor.  When our hands are open, rather than hanging on tightly to what we already have, we are ready to receive even more from God’s bounty.

          As for love, did you notice Jesus’ love for the man in today’s gospel?  “Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (Mk. 10:21) – even though he couldn’t bring himself to follow Jesus.  Today, Jesus, looking at us, loves us, in spite of the things that might get in our way.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Lectionary 28(B) / Thanksgiving    Mark 10:17-31

October 13, 2024                             Hebrews 4:12-16

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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