October 13, 2024: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: 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.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” 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.”

Reflection
This Sunday’s Gospel presents us with a challenge. The young man who approaches Jesus to ask what he must do to gain eternal life acknowledges that he is keeping all of the commandments and perhaps hopes that he will be affirmed as a good law-abiding Jew.
Jesus loves this young man and does not turn him away. Jesus never turns anyone away! But the man cannot say yes to the ultimate thing that Jesus asks of him. He came looking for a pat on the back and was not ready for having more asked of him. He turned away on his own.
What Jesus asks of this person who has “many possession” is to give them up for the sake of the kindom. It is a hard thing to ask! Peter reminds Jesus that the disciples have given up everything for him and they receive the assurance that eludes the rich young man. They will have more than they can imagine in return. The story is rooted in trust.
The disciples have trusted that Jesus is the way and in trusting, have given up everything. The rich young man is unable to trust enough to let go of earthly things. Where do we stand on the trust scale?
Action
This week let’s ask ourselves if we are doing all we can to further the kindom by our acts of love, mercy and justice. In the quiet of our hearts let us see what more God is asking of us and trust enough to not turn away.