Another week, another question.
Three weeks ago, Jesus asked the disciples
what they had been arguing about. And we heard how greatness comes from
serving.
Last week it was the Pharisees asking
Jesus ‘is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’
When the Pharisees asked Jesus about
divorce, they were not interested in the answer, but were wanting to test or
trap him. Jesus talked about looking after the least, and the importance of
relationships.
This week a man asks Jesus: what must I
do to inherit eternal life?
This week, the young man is not
setting a trap. This young man has done everything asked of him by society, he
has kept the religious laws, he is wealthy, what more could he do.
I sensed a call to ordained ministry
in 1986, a long time before I went to college and started the training. There were
a number of reasons it took so long, partly it was me thinking I wouldn't be
able to cope with being in ministry; but there was also the sense of what more
do you want from me God. I was a lay preacher, I was an elder, a member of
Presbytery, on regional and state committees, did hospital visiting – really –
what more do you want!
But, every so often, the call would
come back strongly, and the ordination question would be in my head again. And in
the end I knew there was more being asked of me, well not really more, just God
was leading me in a different direction.
No matter how successful we look to
people, no matter how many rules we obey, no matter how many years we attend
worship or cook for cake stalls; there can still be that yearning for a closer
relationship with God.
This young man felt that there was something
missing in his life, that uneasiness within, looking for something that money can’t
buy, something that keeping rules couldn't give him.
I used to like the certainty of rules,
I knew at home, and school, that if I kept the rules I wouldn't get into
trouble; as an adult what I know is that keeping the rules won’t get me into
trouble, but rules are not where life comes from.
The life that the young man was
seeking, comes from relationship with God and with God’s creation, not with keeping
rules. And when we are in relationship with God, when we follow Gods guidance,
keeping the rules – of love, respect for people and property become part of the
way we live, rather than for the sake of keeping the rules.
One of the difficulties people have with
this reading, is that Jesus says how hard it is for someone who is rich to enter
the kingdom of heaven. Now I am guessing if I asked you, most of you would tell
me you are not wealthy. I googled income
comparison, and the one site I found that took into account the country you
lived in, $50, 000 after tax; that is $1,000 take home each week; puts you in the
top 1% world-wide.
The question he asked was: what must I
do to inherit eternal life?
Not what must I do to earn, or gain, or
buy eternal life; but - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem. He has
told the disciples twice now that he will be killed. And the disciples still don’t
get that.
What must I do to inherit eternal
life? –
Well ……. any inheritance means someone
has died.
And inheritance goes to ….. family.
So the question: what must I do to
inherit eternal life?
Maybe is really… how do I become part of
Gods family?
Which we hear is almost impossible for
the wealthy, but not for God.
Maybe when Jesus tells him to sell his
possessions and give them to the poor, he is releasing the man from that which possesses
him. What is it that keeps you separated from God and from people? What do you have
to offer people who are lonely, poor, treated unjustly?
Earlier I told you the story of the mixed-up
chameleon. The chameleon got confused because he wanted to be like other
animals, and not a chameleon. Yet when
he was trying to be all the other animals, he couldn't get the food he needed
to survive.
Sometimes it is easy to aim to be like
other people, wealthy, famous, clever, good looking, a good surfer, …..
It is easy to forget that we are named
and claimed by God.
In Baptism we are reminded that we are
loved by God, that we are part of Gods family. We are heirs, inheritors, by God’s
grace and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
When we respond to Gods invitation, when
we inherit eternal life, we are also challenged to seek the welfare of all
people, and all of creation.
Where is God inviting you into closer relationship?
What is God challenging you to let go
off?
