“Rich Young Man”
The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost: Year B
Sermon by Lay Preacher, Ginnie Glassman
I have often heard that first impressions are lasting. When I first read today’s Gospel about the unnamed rich young man, I thought he was rather arrogant and privileged and even rude. He runs up to Jesus and interrupts him as he is preparing to leave town. He claims to have kept all the commandments since he was a child. He wants to know how he can inherit eternal life. Is he looking for a handout? And when Jesus tells him what he needs to do, he chooses his wealth over following Jesus….. And yet, Jesus takes the time to talk with him… Why?
Maybe I needed a second look. The young man runs up to Jesus in great urgency, kneels before him and calls him “good teacher.” He knows of Jesus and is showing signs of respect not arrogance. So many passages begin this way with people who are seeking healing from Jesus. They have heard of him, run up to him and throw themselves at his feet. They tell him their story and what they need to be cured or resolved. Is it possible this man recognized that there was something missing in his life and wanted to speak to Jesus about it while he could?…. While he had the courage?
The young man asks “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” An inheritance is received, not earned. It is received by being in a relationship with someone who would leave it to you. Eternal life is not an inheritance but a free gift from God, not earned but freely given.
When Jesus responds “you know the commandments” and names the six that deal with how we treat each other (do not murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not lie, do not cheat and honor your mother and father), the young man says, “ I have kept all these since my youth.”. My first thought was “No one can do that!”. Jesus, however, does not respond with something like “Oh, really?” Instead he looks at the young man with LOVE.
Dionne Warwick sang “the look of love is saying so much more than words could ever say”: Jesus knows the thoughts of our hearts and sees that this man has worked hard at keeping the commandments and living a good life. Now he wants to know what more he can do, what is the next step? Jesus tells him “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.”
Maybe this man did not see the love that Jesus was showing him when he looked at him. Jesus is inviting him into a relationship. But this answer shocks the man and he goes away grieving because of his many possessions. His wealth owns him and has become an obstacle that blinds him from seeing the love and the gift that Jesus offers him.
He had a lot to lose if he sold all his possessions. Without his wealth, he would need to be dependent on others. He would not be able to bargain and buy whatever he wanted. His destiny would be in the hands of others…. Or maybe he had seen the love in Jesus’ eyes and was upset that he did not have the courage to do what was asked of him?
The Bible does not tell us anything more about this young man. Does he eventually think things over and decide to follow Jesus? Does he allow his possessions to own him and turn away from becoming a follower of Jesus? Does he realize that getting to heaven is not like accumulating wealth?
For the young man, Jesus knew that selling his possessions was the “one thing” he needed to do to free himself to become a disciple. What about us? Does this passage tell us that we need to sell everything we own and give it all to the poor to have a closer relationship with God? Saint Francis found that selling everything and depending on God was the answer for him, but what about others?
Jose Andres came to the United States from Spain thirty-five years ago and opened one restaurant in Washington DC. Slowly, he successfully opened thirty more. When an earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, he volunteered to go there and provide meals. His innovation and ability to recruit others and gather supplies led to his founding of the World Central Kitchen. He has brought his team to numerous hurricane, fire and war areas. There they provide thousands of meals to the local people and the rescue teams. In his work, he “feeds the few but also believes in feeding the many.” Several of his restaurants have closed but rather than sell them, he uses the kitchens and the space to feed people who are homeless. In what he does, he says he has “become the hands and feet of Jesus to people seeking hope during a time of crisis.”
And another young man, Tim Hammack, after completing culinary school, had achieved his dream of working at Bouchon, a high-end French restaurant in Napa Valley. He loved the cooking but wasn’t happy, something was missing. Dave, a friend from culinary school, had chosen to work at a rescue mission in the Bay Area. He invited Tim to join him in starting a cooking school at the shelter, to provide skills and training for the people who lived there. Tim was resistant to the idea at first, but his friend Dave persisted. Eventually, Tim became the head chef at the shelter and creates healthy meals on a small budget, gathering ingredients from food surplus and government supplies. It reminds him of visiting his grandmother who would go out to the garden in the morning to “see what God has provided for us today” and create a meal with the foods. He feels that every meal that is served is a blessing both to those who cook and those who are served. He says “love and faith are a successful kitchen’s most important ingredients.”
And then there is Jess Richardson who was working as a landscaper at his father’s garden center but knew the work was not for him. As he looked online for other jobs, he kept seeing hospital positions but quickly rejected them. He had developed a fear and hatred of hospitals after his mother died when he was eleven. He knew that every time an ambulance came to their house, it might be the last time he would see his mom alive. He kept seeing ads for X-ray technicians and was fascinated but refused to consider working in a hospital. His aunt, who was a nurse, talked to him about her experiences. She explained that some people do die in hospitals but many others are healed and comforted there: babies are born, cancers are cured, bodies are restored to health. He spent two years earning his certification to become an x-ray tech. He says he now loves his new position that “many angels had led me to.”
Sharing wealth, letting go of a prestigious job or overcoming fears brought these people to a fuller life, an appreciation of the needs of others and recognition of God’s role in their lives.
Is there “one thing” we are holding onto so tightly that it is an obstacle to a fuller relationship with God? It could be wealth, like the young man, or it could be a resistance to something we are afraid to try. It doesn’t have to be something big. I am resistant to changing my normal routine but when I do, I often discover something new. Think of a time you have taken a risk or tried something you were unsure of. What was the result? Did you learn something new? We need to pray, consider and take chances trying new things. We may discover a better, more satisfying life and being closer to God. In discovering what that “one thing” is, one preacher recommends:
If you don’t know, ask [God]. It’s a dangerous question to ask, as the rich young ruler discovered. But when you ask, Jesus looks at you and loves you. If you follow the king, you gain the kingdom. And it will be worth it.
Amen.
Collect: Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Amos 5:6-7,10-15
Seek the Lord and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire,
and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.
Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!
They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.
Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.
Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Psalm 90:12-17
12 So teach us to number our days * that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? * be gracious to your servants.
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us * and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your works * and your splendor to their children.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; * prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.
Hebrews 4:12-16
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Mark 10:17-31
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 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.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible
” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”