SUNDAY- 28th WEEK
IN ORDINARY TIME –B
Gospel: Mark 10:17-30: Go and sell everything you own and follow me.
I Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11: Compared with wisdom, I held riches as nothing.
II Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13:The word of God can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
The Rich Young Ruler: The Problem of Eternal Life, Mk 10:17-22
This
man is known as “the rich young ruler.” He is called because of the combined
picture gleaned from all the three gospels.
· He was rich (Mt 19:22; Mk 10:22; Lk
18:23).
· He was young (Mt 19:20).
· He was a ruler (Lk 18:18).
He
was a rare young man among the people of his day. He was conscientious,
responsible, dependable and placed into a position of leadership. He was
eagerly seeking eternal life-a spiritual matter often shunned by young people.
The
dominant theme of the young man’s experience is his sincerity, his desperate
search for eternal life. Jesus takes the man’s desperation and shocks the
world. Desperation, sincerity, eagerness and seeking eternal life are not
enough. Man has a problem in seeking eternal life.
1.
A rich young man sought Jesus (v.17)
a.
Eagerness: ran
b.
Humility: fell on knees
c.
Respect: good teacher
d.
Concern: eternity
2.
Fact 1: To praise Jesus Christ is not enough to receive eternal life (v.18)
3.
Fact 2: To be respectable is not enough to receive eternal life (v.19-20)
a.
Laws of respectability
b.
His respectable character
4.
Fact 3: To be loved by Jesus is not enough to receive eternal life (v.21)
5.
Fact 4: To give everything is required to receive eternal life (v.21-22)
a.
The meaning: Total and sacrificial giving: the abandonment of all
b.
The result: The requirement is sad news-he goes away
Thought: God
expects us to work so that we can have enough to help others (Eph 4:28). We are
to help as we are able, but we are to be honest about ability to help the needy
and poor in the society. The young man did not
believe heaven was glorious enough to merit the giving up of his
possessions (Lk 9:23; 19:8).
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