11 October 2015 - still lacking one thing

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?"

This young man seems to be in pretty good shape as people go. He kneels before the one whom he recognizes as good. None are good but God alone. Perhaps he intuits this and so he kneels. He is a virtuous individual. He has kept the commandments since his childhood. But he is not yet perfect.

"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.

The word of God who is living and active cuts to the core of who he is. The word, Jesus, shows him the places where he is still fooling himself, the attachments he still holds, and the growth he still needs. In his case it is very much a choice between wisdom and riches. The struggle to prefer wisdom to riches is great because he already has the riches and yet is not bereft of wisdom. Even Solomon is not asked to part with the riches he has but rather to forego the possibility of more which he could receive directly from God. Yet the realization of Solomon is precisely what this rich young man needs.

all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,

The disciples are justifiably concerned. They have given up much already. If there is nothing in this world to which they can cling, "Then who can be saved?" It is impossible as long as we prefer wealth to wisdom, our words to the word of God.

"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. 
All things are possible for God."

Just as Solomon discovers, when we seek wisdom everything else comes along with her. When we prefer the kingdom of God everything else is added unto us.

Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

In this life we experience this truth of our unshakable spiritual wealth even in the face of persecutions. But in the age to come we experience this reality in fullness: eternal life without sadness or tears.

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Wisdom of God, teach us! Word of God, cut down our illusions! Bring us the joy we can only have in you.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.