The Story of the Rich Man and the Disciples
These various reflection on Gospel characters hopes to show the importance of deep personal prayer.In some examples, the absence of this prayer is also insightful.
Mark 10:17-31
What seems to be Jesus’ teaching in the story of the rich man has been followed by very few, if any, persons in the history of Christianity. This total and immediate withdrawal from possessions has always been a gradual process in the most respected practices of Christian spirituality.So, the question is this: what is there in this tragic story that can help us in our Christian journey? The first thing we need to do is connect the rich man’s experience to the next two passages about wealth and the hundredfold.
The most striking message of Jesus in this Gospel selection is that we must find our security in God and not in our possessions. We must grow to a point where we see that our possessions are good only if they help us to seek God. They are an obstacle if they hinder our search for God. A great help in making this determination is to grow in our ability to decide what we need rather than what we want. This approach is radically opposed to the engulfing message of the consumer culture we live in.
The rich man displayed a heart that was searching for more. Most times, this is a longing for God. Obeying the law fell short of his hunger for a deeper satisfaction and security. This hunger is built into our heart because we are made for God and God alone.
Jesus’ observation that only God is good is a seemingly unrelated statement. It is, however, at the core of the man’s search. Salvation and the kingdom and eternal life are only possible because of God’s goodness and mercy. Human effort is just not enough.
A second idea in the story is also made clear. It is only in our relation with Jesus that we are invited into our true destiny to be one with God. When Jesus looked at the troubled man with love, he was calling him to trust in God and not in his possessions. At this time, the man walked away sad because his possessions owned him rather than he owned the possessions. This danger challenges all of us.
In the following two passages about wealth and the hundredfold, Jesus offers us a different way to relate to our possessions. His initial statement about the danger of wealth shocked the disciples. Following the ordinary and widely accepted interpretation of the Jewish Scriptures, they believed that wealth was a sure sign of God’s blessings. Jesus, however, says “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” (10:23) Then he continues to explain: “For human beings it is impossible but not for God.” (10:27)
Then we have further clarification in the next passage. The disciples are identified as among those who “have given up everything and followed You.” (10:28) The disciples are people who are clearly described by the evangelist Mark in their weakness and ambivalence. Yet, they are trying to say yes to Jesus so they will receive both a hundredfold in this life and life eternal.
This positive description of the disciples is totally contrary to their absolute inability to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his upcoming passion and death.
The comforting point for us is this. In spite of their weakness and insecurity on the road to Jerusalem, the disciples are still trying to follow Jesus. Unlike the rich man, they do not walk away. For sure, they are confused, and probably they had many a sad moment, but in the end, they were faithful.
The rest of the Gospel story will show that the disciples fell far short of “leaving everything”. Yet, they stayed in the struggle to follow Jesus. Their determination will show us the way. It is a gradual but steady surrender to transforming our mind and heart in a long journey. It is a process of moving our security from our possessions to an ever-growing trust in God, a trust that eventually needs to be absolute. We get there, step by step, even if we are hesitant, and even if we fall back. It is all about staying in the struggle to walk with Jesus. More often than not, our weakness will let us know that “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” (10:27)
The rich man failed because he placed all the emphasis on himself and his sacrifice. He failed to put his eyes on Jesus and his offer of a new and richer life. There is a great lesson for all of us as we battle to break loose of the enslaving power of our possessions. In the end “our things” are a trap that block our heart’s most authentic and irreplaceable longings. Only God can satisfy these desires. In all of this struggle, deep personal prayer is our greatest support.
