what is life?

A little background:

·    When the man comes up to Jesus, he compliments Jesus by calling him good, in the culture of the time, this meant Jesus should be return with a compliment.

·         prevailing theology was “wealth = blessing from God”, the idea that the wealthy would not be the first into the Kingdom is a radical change[i]

·    In Mark, the man is not described in the same way as Luke – where he is the rich young ruler. In Mark he is a property owner. I am told the word used for having possessions, means property rather than watches or jewellery or books.

·    In the commandments listed, which are the second half of the ten commandments that deal with how we live in community with each other, Jesus adds in an extra one – do not cheat. Is Jesus implying the man has exploited his workers?

Landowners had tenant farmers farm their land, with the landowner getting the excess over what the family needed, but as in other times in history, it is possible the landowner was demanding his portion first, even if that meant the tenant farmer could not feed his family.

The last week we read the section where Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Jesus says this is what will happen, I will be tortured and killed, and Peters says: no way, that isn’t how it is going to happen.

Then the story of Jesus up the mountain with Moses and Elijah and a voice form heaven saying: This is my son, listen to him!

Then some parts we didn’t hear read:

Jesus healing a boy with a spirit,

Jesus again says he will be killed;

then the first part of today’s reading –

the argument about who is greatest and the need to welcome children, then a question from the disciples over what to do about an exorcist that isn’t one of them
and a conversation about what to do if you are tempted to sin,
the teaching on divorce,
Jesus blessing the children,
then the story of the rich man.

I wonder if Jesus ever got angry and said to the disciples:

when will you get this!

There is not going to be a palace or a party at the end of this road.

I am the Messiah, but not like what you are looking for.

We are almost up to the entry into Jerusalem and Jesus can see the writing in the wall.

What to make of this reading?

Well, it isn’t saying being rich is good or bad.

But what is important is what we do with what we have.

The kingdom is not after we die, but what we live into here and now.

The Kingdom of God is not about who has the most possessions, land, money, toys, or anything else.

The kingdom of God is based on who generated the most love and reconciliation and forgiveness

It is about living into the Kingdom, seeing the divinity in each person.

We are near the beginning of Lent, a time when we consider our life with God and with others. A time when we review our lives and our priorities.

Verse 21[NRSV]: Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’  

Notice that Jesus loves the man, before the man decides what to do. The love of Jesus does not depend on your response to his call to come and follow. Jesus loves you!

Just as the other disciples were called to leave behind their nets and tax booths and everything else, so this man was called to leave everything he has. And we are also called to follow and be willing to leave behind anything and any relationship.

Jesus says: I love you

Then invites us into a deeper relationship with God and with those around us.

And in that relationship with God we are challenged to be agents of reconciliation, admitting our greed, hateful words and offensive behaviour.

None of us are perfect, and I don’t think Jesus expects perfection.

Love is the basis of Christianity;

the Love of God shown in Jesus

the love of Jesus shown in his living

the love that we show others because we know we are loved unconditionally.

How does the love of God for us

and the love of Christ in us

show in our lives?

Reflection time

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[i] https://www.pulpitfiction.com/narrative-notes/2-26

The Challenge of Grace

Another of the hard sayings of Jesus, last week it was about divorce, and this week about money, or rather giving it away.

No wonder these are called the hard sayings. Last week’s reading had us thinking about law and relationships. Jesus was not trying to do away with the law, but was reshaping the way the law was interpreted. For Jesus the law about divorce wasn't about when it was or was not permissible for a man to divorce his wife; but about people in relationship.

In  a society where women and children were possessions, Jesus treats both groups as people, as just as important as the men who held power. I don’t think Jesus was condemning divorce per se, but the way that it was, and is, possible for people to be discarded. Women and children are not possessions in the Kingdom of God, and therefore should not be treated as possessions, but as God’s precious people.

Today’s reading is another reminder that Christianity is about more than keeping a set of rules.  For many people that is the image of religion; a set of rules, about how what you wear, about alcohol, about money. Christianity is about more than keeping rules.

While this reading is often referred to as the rich young ruler, in Mark he is simply referred to as a man. This man is looking for something, he has been an observant Jew, aware of the law and has followed it. Jesus doesn't question if he has really has kept all the laws. For the Jews it was considered quite reasonable to be able to keep these laws. He comes to Jesus, looking for reassurance, security; it is like he knows there is more to life than keeping rules.

Other people who came to Jesus and knelt before him were looking for healing, I wonder what this man was looking for healing from?

We was rich, Jesus tells him to go and sell all he has and give it to the poor. This is a difficult reading for somewhere like Australia, and especially like the Shire. While there are people living in poverty, people who are homeless, people without regular meals, in Australia that is not the norm. Most people in Australia, including those of us here today, are not poor, we have enough and often more than enough. This reading is again about how we relate to God’s people, all of them.

In first century Israel, wealth was at the expense of the poor. Just as today that may not be intentional; but when we buy cheap goods manufactured in sweatshops, so we can afford some luxury, who pays for that? Much of the inequity in the world is not because we plan it that way; but we are complicit, because the structures that serve our interest, keep many of the poor, poor.  There are options, such as fair trade goods and food, but it is easier and cheaper to go a supermarket and buy the cheapest products.

“How would we spend our money this week if we trusted God? What would we buy? What would we refrain by buying? What would we save, and for what purpose? And what would we give - how much and to whom?” [David Lose : Working Preacher]

The man is challenged to give to those, whose poverty has allowed his wealth. How does it feel to realise that you have more than enough? To be challenged to spread around the resources that we have, so that all may have enough?

This isn't only for the benefit of those who receive. Possessions, by their very nature are things that belong to us, but in many ways they own us.  The larger house you have, the more time in cleaning. Some cherished items need special cleaning and maintenance. The swimming pool or tennis court takes time, or money, to maintain. Possessions have a way of keeping us focused on them.

Our possessions do not bring us life, or hope, or peace, or the security we crave. Life in Jesus provides life, and hope, and peace, and the security we crave. Life in Jesus, the invitation is there, but do we accept it, along with the challenges that life in Jesus entails? The challenge of investing resources in all God’s people and all of creation; the challenge to live not only by the law, but in the spirit of grace; in relationship with each other, with all people.

The man who approached Jesus wanted to know how to receive eternal life. In Matthew’s Gospel we are  reminded that we should store up our treasure in heaven “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [Matthew 6]

When our treasure lies in possessions, that is where we focus our time and our energy. In challenging the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he is being encouraged to put his resources, his treasure in God’s people. Investing in God is investing in the poor, the homeless, those seeking education, clean water, sustainable food.

Maybe that is what Jesus is telling this man, invest your wealth where it counts. How to do that? That is hard, for some of us, almost impossible. No wonder the man went away sad.

And  then we get to the part about the rich not entering the kingdom of God. Where does that leave us, we all have shelter and food, that means each one of us is rich. Does this mean we can’t enter the kingdom of God?

If it is up to us, to our resources and our willpower, yes it means we can’t enter the kingdom of God. But it is not up to us, entry into the kingdom of God, into heaven, is through God’s grace, not our wealth, or our poverty or our keeping the rules.

It is God’s grace, that brings us life, abundant life, now and forever.

“God doesn't want us bound up in rules as the Pharisees were.  God offers us transforming love, that we might live as God intended, disciples with an active, daring, self-risking faith.” [Texts For Preaching]

Imagine that you are kneeling before Jesus, as he heads towards Jerusalem. What do you need transformed in your life?

What does Jesus challenge you to let go of, to give away?