Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Karen Dietz
Opening Prayer
O God, may your grace always go before us and follow after us as we carry out good works. Amen.
Reading
Mark 10: 17 – 30
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 human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Reflection
Have you ever had occasion to butcher chicken or other meat? To do so effectively you need a really sharp knife and it is best to use a boning knife specific to the task. In the second reading for today from Hebrews (4:12- 130) Paul describes the Word of God to be like this kind of knife, able to cut straight to the heart or through the hardness of bone and sinew. This is a perfect image to describe the way of discipleship that Jesus offers the rich young man. Following the path of discipleship only happens when we allow God’s Word to slice open our hearts and our lives.
Most of us are good people. We treat others with respect, we care for the earth, we pray, and we give to the poor. We are living good lives. I think we are most often like the rich young man, following the commandments as much as possible. Is this enough? I would suggest that we have maybe only been using a paring knife that needs sharpening as we read and interpret God’s Word. We have only gone so far – albeit all for good.
The young man goes away sad, because he is not yet ready to sharpen the knife or change the instrument by which he hears God’s Word. He needs more time to pray and to ask for the courage he needs to give over his whole life to God. Again, I think the same can be said for us. We need more time. We need to pray more intentionally, asking God for the courage to follow even though we do not know where the path will lead, and we do not know what will be asked of us along the way.
However, we do know! We have been taught and told that the path of discipleship leads to life everlasting with God who loves us like crazy. We have been promised by Jesus that though there is suffering in this life, we will be reunited with him and with all God’s people. “All things are possible for God” and God wants nothing more than to welcome us into God’s heart and into life eternal. Let us pray for one another, that we can reach out beyond our comfort zones and allow God’s Word to penetrate and fill our hearts for the sake of all.
Closing Prayer
O God, fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Amen. (Psalm 90)
