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…” Mark
10:17–19
Jesus addresses different people in different ways. He chastised
the proud and arrogant who came to trap Him. He was exceptionally
gentle and kind to the repentant sinner who came in tears. He spoke
in parables and figures of speech to those who were curious but had
little faith. And to those who came with openness, sincerely
seeking the truth, He spoke clearly, lovingly and directly.
Today’s Gospel presents us with the familiar story of the Rich
Young Man. Notice how this young man came to Jesus. First, he “ran
up” to Jesus. This suggests he was very desirous to speak with our
Lord. He also knelt down before Jesus, which points to his humility
and reverence. Then he asked Jesus a direct and important question.
He didn’t ask Jesus to heal someone. He wasn’t looking for a
miracle or a personal favor. Instead, this young man asked the
question we should all ask Jesus every day. “Good teacher, what
must I do to inherit eternal life?” Is this a question that you
ponder and ask our Lord?
As the story unfolds, Jesus gives two answers. First, He gives the
young man the fundamental answer to his question. Eternal life is
obtained by keeping away from serious sin, out of love and
obedience to the will of God. But after the young man inquires
further, Jesus gives him a much deeper answer. This second answer
was one based on a deep love for this young man because it
presented the key to perfection. “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.”
Many people go through life fulfilling the most fundamental
precepts of holiness. They avoid serious sin so as to remain in a
state of grace. And this is good. But Jesus wants so much more: He
wants perfection. When we sincerely seek out perfection, Jesus will
answer us as He answered the Rich Young Man. Perfection requires
the deepest purification from all unhealthy attachments. Most
people have many attachments that hinder perfection. Those
attachments might not be mortal sins, but they are venial sins, or
spiritual imperfections. Therefore, it’s important to know that if
you want perfection, and if you humble yourself before our Lord and
sincerely ask how to obtain it, He will lovingly invite you to
detach from everything but God and His holy will for your life.
What that means practically for you must be prayerfully
discerned.
Reflect, today, upon whether or not you could join this rich young
man in his humble questions posed to Jesus. Do you want to know how
to be perfect? If so, are you ready to respond to Jesus’ answer?
Are you willing to abandon everything that is a hindrance to the
will of God so that you can follow Him and fulfill His perfect
will? Ponder this question and commit yourself to the full embrace
of Jesus’ answer and you will become richer in what matters than
you could ever imagine.
My generous Lord, You call me to perfection. You call me to turn
from everything that hinders my perfect love of You and my full
embrace of Your will. Please help me to sincerely turn to You every
day, seeking only Your full will in all things. As I do, please set
me free from all that keeps me from the life of perfection to which
I am called. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured images above: Cathedral Church of Saint Patrick
(Charlotte, North Carolina) - stained glass, Christ and the rich
young man, via Wikimedia Commons
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