Monday of the 8th
Week in Ordinary Time
May 23, 2016 8:30am
Readings I
Peter 1.3-9
Mark
10.17-27
One expert in Scripture says that
the incident in today’s gospel is about respectability versus Christianity.
A young man comes to Jesus and
asks what he must do to inherit everlasting life.
Jesus quotes some of the
commandments.
And notice that all of the
commandments he quotes are negative – “Thou
shalt not” – except one.
And the one positive commandment
was limited to the family circle – to honor our parents.
The young man says that he has
kept all of these commandments.
But in effect, he was speaking
negatively and saying, “I have not done
any harm to anyone.”
Jesus’ response in effect says: “Yes, maybe you have not done any harm to
others, but what good have you done?
“With all your possessions and wealth, what positive good have you done
for others?
“How much have you gone out of your way to help and comfort others as
you might have done with all that you have?”
Respectability in general
consists in not doing certain things.
Christianity, following Jesus,
consists in doing things.
It may be respectable never to
take anything away from anyone.
It is Christian to give to
someone.
Jesus challenges the young man
and us.
Stop looking at goodness in terms
of not doing certain things.
Start looking at goodness in
terms of doing as much good as possible with what you have.
This was a difficult challenge for
that wealthy young man.
It remains difficult for us.
But it makes the difference
between just being respectable and being Christian, a real disciple of Jesus.
