{"id":5161,"date":"2024-10-13T23:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-13T22:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5161"},"modified":"2024-10-22T11:12:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T10:12:32","slug":"commentary-on-the-28th-sunday-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-28th-sunday-b\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 28th Sunday (B) 13.10.2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT: \u2013 Mark 10:17\u201331 \u2014 Riches & Discipleship<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cWhat must I do?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Do this<\/strong><\/p>\n

18 And Jesus said to him, \u201cWhy do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: \u2018Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I do all<\/strong><\/p>\n

20 And he said to him, \u201cTeacher, all these I have observed from my youth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n

21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, \u201cYou lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He could not abandon his possessions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.<\/em><\/p>\n

How Hard for the Rich<\/strong><\/p>\n

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \u201cHow hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, \u201cChildren, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

All Things Possible with God<\/strong><\/p>\n

26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, \u201cThen who can be saved?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

27 Jesus looked at them and said, \u201cWith men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Reward for Those who leave Everything<\/strong><\/p>\n

28 Peter began to say to him, \u201cLo, we have left everything and followed you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

29 Jesus said, \u201cTruly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. <\/em><\/p>\n

31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

This section of Mark\u2019s Gospel follows on Mk. 10: 13\u201316 which dealt with entrance into the kingdom of God. The three qualities required are: (i) acknowledge one\u2019s absolute powerlessness to achieve anything by oneself, like children; (ii) absolute dependence on God who alone can give entry; (iii) acknowledge that entrance is a gift of God.<\/p>\n

This passage may be divided into three parts: (i) challenge to and response of a rich man; (ii) riches and entrance into the kingdom of God; (iii) renunciation and reward. Jesus associates these with the idea of discipleship.<\/p>\n

\n

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as he was setting out on his journey<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Mark keeps the theme of a journey to Jerusalem and crucifixion before his readers\u2019 eyes (Mk. 8: 27; 9: 2, 9, 14, 30, 33; 10: 1). Jesus\u2019 life was associated with his journey to suffering and death. So those who \u201cfollow him<\/em>\u201d must travel the same road. There have been three previous calls to follow Jesus \u2014 Mk. 1: 16 and 19; 2: 13\u201314. In each of these Jesus was in movement before extending the invitation to \u201cfollow me<\/em>\u201d. In verse 21 Jesus will invite the rich man to \u201cfollow<\/em>\u201d him.<\/p>\n

\u201ca man ran up and knelt before him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This was a sign of respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cand asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The man was sincere in seeking the way to eternal life and he acknowledged that Jesus could direct him because Jesus was obviously a good person.<\/p>\n

The man was of the opinion that he could attain eternal life by certain works that he would perform (\u201cwhat must I do<\/em>\u201d). Jesus had just taught that eternal life is a gift bestowed by God.<\/p>\n

 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

18 And Jesus said to him, \u201cWhy do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: \u2018Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Jesus said to him, \u2018Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 The man saw Jesus as \u201cgood<\/em>\u201d because he had attained excellence as a Teacher and as a healer. Jesus directs the man to understand goodness. He has called Jesus \u201cgood<\/em>\u201d but he did not understand the full meaning of his words. Jesus is \u201cgood<\/em>\u201d precisely because of his relationship with God.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the commandments: \u2018Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The man wanted to know what he \u201cmust do<\/em>\u201d to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments as that is God\u2019s will, the sign of the covenant expressed to Moses. God\u2019s will is that people respect and reverence their neighbour. The six commandments listed are from the second part of the Ten Commandments which deal with one\u2019s relationship with other people.<\/p>\n

He was a rich man (v. 22). This may explain \u201cdo not stea<\/em>l\u201d, \u201cdo not bear false witness\u201d<\/em> and \u201cdo not defraud\u201d<\/em> which could be associated with successful but unjust business enterprises.<\/p>\n

\n

20 And he said to him, \u201cTeacher, all these I have observed from my youth.\u201d 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, \u201cYou lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he said to him, \u2018Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The man is sincere in striving for eternal life.<\/p>\n

He states that he has observed the commandments \u201cfrom his youth<\/em>\u201d, which would be from his twelfth birthday when he would have assumed responsibility for his actions (bar\u2013mitzvah<\/em>). There is an indication that he is now no longer young.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Jesus looking upon him loved him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus \u201clooking<\/em>\u201d at someone occurs three times in this passage (Mk. 10: 21, 23, 27). What follows these words is always important.<\/p>\n

Jesus loves him because of his sincerity and integrity. By observing the commandments he has given up much pleasure that could have come his way rather than offend God. Jesus now challenges him to become a follower of his and live Jesus\u2019 life of total dependence on God.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus gives him an absolute command, not a counsel: \u201cgo<\/em>\u201d, \u201csell<\/em>\u201d everything and \u201cgive to the poor<\/em>\u201d so that you may not claim it back. The treasure where his heart will be will not be earthly but in heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018and come, follow me\u2019<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The man was good. Jesus challenged him to be better \u2014 to give up everything so that he could give himself completely to God by following Jesus with a spirit of poverty, of absolute dependence of God.<\/p>\n

If he did give up everything he would have been like Jesus who \u201cemptied himself<\/em>\u201d of his divinity and became man that people like this \u2018rich\u2019 man might become really rich in sharing his divinity.<\/p>\n

\n

22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAt that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is the only story in the Gospels where a person does not accept Jesus\u2019 invitation to \u201cfollow<\/em>\u201d him. What the \u201cpoor\u201d man lacked is what he possessed! As Fr. Wilfrid Harrington has written, this is the saddest story in the Gospels.<\/p>\n

This man is never mentioned again in the Gospels, even though this story is recorded by the other two Synoptic writers. This does not mean that the encounter with Jesus did not bear fruit for him. The Gospels never tell of anyone not entering the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n

\n

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \u201cHow hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Jesus looked around and said to his disciples<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is another case where Jesus gave a special and private instruction to his disciples (Mk. 4: 10\u201312; 7: 17\u201323; 10: 10\u201312).<\/p>\n

By \u201clooking around<\/em>\u201d Jesus indicates that he has something important to say. What he will say is addressed to \u201chis disciples<\/em>\u201d on behalf of the Church.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Jewish people thought that wealth was a sign of God\u2019s approval of their way of life. That made it particularly difficult for them to give up wealth.<\/p>\n

\n

24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, \u201cChildren, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the disciples were amazed at his words<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It was a completely new outlook on riches for them.<\/p>\n

But Jesus said to them again, \u201cChildren, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus stresses how difficult it is for anyone to enter the kingdom of God. He does not refer to riches in this verse. Riches are not the only thing that makes attaining eternal life difficult.<\/p>\n

Jesus calls the disciples \u201cchildren<\/em>\u201d, linking this verse with Mk. 10: 15, \u201cwhoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it<\/em>\u201d. The commentary on that verse read: \u201cIf one does not depend on God to receive the kingdom as a gift, like a powerless child, that person cannot enter the kingdom; the person does not have the correct approach to the kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Two explanations are offered to elucidate these words. Both are not supported elsewhere. The first exchanges the word \u201ccable\u201d or \u201crope\u201d [in Greek: camilos] for \u201ccamel\u201d [Greek: cam\u0113los]. The second says that there was a very narrow gate in Jerusalem called \u201cThe Needle\u2019s Eye\u201d. There is no evidence of such a gate. The saying should be accepted as hyperbole. The camel was the largest animal in the Holy Land; the eye of a needle was the smallest hole known to everyone. The example described the impossible.<\/p>\n

\n

26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, \u201cThen who can be saved?\u201d 27 Jesus looked at them and said, \u201cWith men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they were exceedingly astonished<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Their attitude was that if the rich could have such problems, then what about other people?<\/p>\n

\u201cand said to him, \u201cThen who can be saved?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The disciples saw this teaching as an indication that few would be saved. Jesus softens his teaching in the following words.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus looked at them and said<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The expression \u201cJesus looked at them<\/em>\u201d is frequent in Mark\u2019s Gospel (Mk. 3: 34; 5: 32; 9: 8; 10: 21, 23, 27; 11: 11). It implies a searching concentration. What follows is always particularly important.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018With men it is impossible\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Human beings cannot enter into eternal life by their own powers or work; they cannot save themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018but not with God; for all things are possible with God.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 When God promised that Sarah would conceive by Abraham she laughed because of their age. God said \u201cIs anything too hard for the Lord?<\/em>\u201d (Gn. 18: 14; Job10: 13; 42: 2; Zech. 8: 6). Abraham would be the father of an innumerable nation. Jesus repeats this idea \u2014 because it is God\u2019s work, numerous people will be saved. Salvation is a gift from God for those who depend on him.<\/p>\n

\n

28 Peter began to say to him, \u201cLo, we have left everything and followed you.\u201d 29 Jesus said, \u201cTruly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPeter began to say to him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Peter is spokesman for the other disciples. (Mk. 8: 29, 32; 9:5; 11: 21).<\/p>\n

\u201cLo, we have left everything and followed you.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Peter is really asking a question: \u2018what is in store by way of reward for all who make sacrifices to enter the kingdom of God and become disciples by following Jesus?\u2019 Peter is contrasting himself and the others with the rich man who was offered but refused to follow Jesus because of what he would have to sacrifice (Mk. 10: 17\u201322). Peter and the others were offered and accepted.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus said, \u201cTruly, I say to you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 A phrase that indicates that Jesus is about to make a most solemn statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cthere is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Anyone who gives up family and possessions for Jesus or for the sake of the Gospel, will be rewarded. See the following words:<\/p>\n

\u201cwho will not receive a hundredfold now in this time<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It would be clearer and more accurate to translate \u201cbut who will receive<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Jesus does not promise reward only in the next life; there will be reward in this present life also. This is the word of God.<\/p>\n

\u201chouses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The kingdom of God is not a future event; it is among us. Therefore those who enter the kingdom after great sacrifices will be rewarded now as well as completely and perfectly in the future.<\/p>\n

The word \u201cwife<\/em>\u201d does no occur in either verse, for obvious reasons!<\/p>\n

The list in verse 30 repeats the list in verse 29 with the exception of the word \u201cfather<\/em>\u201d which is omitted in verse 30. In Mk. 3: 32\u201335 Jesus was told, \u201cYour mother and your brethren are outside, asking for you<\/em>\u201d. He replied \u201cWhoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother<\/em>\u201d The word \u2018father\u2019 is omitted there also. God is our Father and so cannot be multiplied. Those who are his family do his will.<\/p>\n

One of the great insights of the Second Vatican Council is that the Church is a community, that all members form one family. All members are \u201cbrothers and sisters<\/em>\u201d. All should have the same purpose before them: to worship God and save the world, the reason for God\u2019s Son becoming incarnate.<\/p>\n

\u201cwith persecutions<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Christian life is the life of one who follows Christ (v. 21). The life of Christ means a life leading to suffering and death as a sign of total love for God and human beings. The list of the rewards for those who follow Christ is positive. \u201cWith persecutions<\/em>\u201d should not be seen as a negative attribute but a positive reward, sharing Jesus\u2019 life.<\/p>\n

\u201cand in the age to come eternal life<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The greatest reward will be \u201ceternal life<\/em>\u201d, the kingdom of God, often referred to as a place or \u201cmansion<\/em>\u201d in heaven.<\/p>\n

\n

31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This verse is not part of the Sunday Reading.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut many that are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d \u2014 <\/em>These words confirm the promise in verse 29: the disciples are now among the least and last but in the kingdom of God they will be the first.<\/p>\n

\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

As is our custom, we begin with asking \u2018what does this passage tell us about Jesus?\u2019 A rich man addresses him as \u201cGood Teacher<\/em>\u201d. Jesus is centered on God and points out that only God is good. Jesus depends on him; he is his security.<\/p>\n

So if the man wishes to have eternal life he must be centered on God and do his will. He asks him to reflect on how he observes God\u2019s will in the commandments that refer to his neighbour. There was no need to ask him about the first three commandments that speak of loving God. Obviously he loves God and wishes to share eternal life with him. The man declares that he has been faithful in the commandments that refer to his neighbour. Jesus is drawn to him in a special way for his fidelity. He challenges him and says that what he now needs to do is follow Jesus who is on his journey to crucifixion. Jesus depends on God for everything. Like Jesus, the rich man must depend totally on God for everything. God must become his only security.<\/p>\n

This upsets the rich man. He is accustomed to placing all his security, social status, personal power and comfort in his wealth and possessions. How unlike Jesus who places everything in the hands of his Father. The rich man cannot give up his security, status and happiness even for God.<\/p>\n

The man left Jesus and we never hear of him again. He loved God dearly, he thought, but what he had inherited or earned was too precious to him to give up for any reason, even eternal life with God. In other words, he loved something more than he loved God. In the encounter with Jesus wealth was more precious to him than following Jesus and his way.<\/p>\n

The rich man\u2019s mistake was in thinking that he could \u2018buy\u2019 or earn his way into heaven. His question was \u201cwhat must I do?<\/em>\u201d That was why he observed the commandments. It is true that observing the commandments is essential. However, more is required. God sent his Son into the world to teach us how to really love. We must love not commandments only but a person, Jesus who is God in the flesh. He looked on the rich man with love, as he does with us. He challenged him with the personal invitation to follow him, no matter what the cost. He singled out where the rich man was weakest.<\/p>\n

That is what he does with us. Our first love may not be wealth. But it could be something else that we place before God \u2014 power, relationships, comfort, addictions, pride, etc. What is it that we have to sacrifice to show how we really love God and our neighbour? What is our greatest weakness? Life with God in eternity could depend on our answer and how we deal with it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT: \u2013 Mark 10:17\u201331 \u2014 Riches & Discipleship \u201cWhat must I do?\u201d 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d Do this 18 And Jesus said to him, \u201cWhy do you call<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5161"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8300,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5161\/revisions\/8300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}