28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mk 10:17-30 
“Wisdom and the Freedom of the Holy Spirit”
 

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Imagine how this rich young man must have felt at that moment, even before he heard what Jesus said next. Perhaps we can imagine his personality and disposition: precocious, sincere, eager, desiring to please others and perfect himself. Undoubtedly, this ambitious young man felt disappointed to know he was lacking a single thing in his pursuit of eternal life, so hard was he trying to make progress toward his goals and ideals. And then, to hear that what he was missing was the freedom to surrender his precious possessions: his wealth, security, and his luxurious lifestyle. Never could he have imagined that wealth could be a problem. Wasn’t it a sign of God’s favor for him, that he had attained so much? And to give it to the poor? Really?

But Jesus sees into his heart, and knows him better than he knows himself. Jesus knows him so profoundly because he loves him fully as he is. In that love, he wants more for him than the passing satisfaction of material wealth. It is not that Jesus would love him more if the rich young man were to leave all his wealth behind and give it to the poor. But by liberating himself and giving his wealth to the poor, the young man will attain what he most truly desires, freedom to follow Jesus as his disciple. 

Not only does Jesus’ feedback surprise the young man, it shocks the disciples who also have the mistaken belief that material prosperity is included in their reward for following Jesus. But in their case as well, Jesus knows and loves them. He wants for them a fulfillment that they cannot conceive of, because they think in terms of conventional values and priorities. A life of ease, luxury, and privilege lures them just as it does the peoples of our times. But it is still as distant from the promise that Jesus makes for those who follow him… abundant life in the Kingdom.
 

“Christ and the Rich Young Ruler” painted by Heinrich Hofmann (1889)

And isn’t this what Jesus wants for all of us- a more abundant life, the meaning and joy of discipleship, a life with a mission and purpose, a community of love and belonging, and the chance to contribute our gifts to something bigger than ourselves? 
This is the freedom that surpasses the liberty to simply do as I please. It is the freedom for the Children of God that makes it possible to live in right-relationship with ourselves, others, and everything God has provided us in Creation.

Such inner freedom from attachments is not so easy to attain, and certainly can’t be gained without grace. What might stand in our way from following him more joyfully, more generously, more courageously?
What about my excessive need to be perfect, or to know everything, or to win at all costs? What about my vain desire to appear young and attractive, or to please people? How about my driven need for success, control, or to have things go my way?  These are just a handful of the needs and compulsions that I face in my life, but maybe you can relate? What are the needs, even the addictions that you find in your life?

Not all attachments are egocentric. Some are socio or ethnocentric. Perhaps our attachment is to our national identity, or our social class, or our political preferences, or to people who belong to our religious faith, or who practice their faith in the way we do. If any of these “identifications” are excessive, they tend to exclude those outside of our circle. These are just a handful of ways in which our freedom can be limited, impeding our ability to follow Jesus in discipleship or to welcoming, loving, and serving our neighbor.

In the Synod, we experience everyday the ways in which our preferences, biases, and prejudices about the way things are or should be are different from the person sitting next to us. Our neighbor may come from a context, culture, and experience that is far from our own. Each day, we try to bring open minds, open hearts, and a willingness to listen to one another, to hear how the Holy Spirit is also speaking what it means to follow Christ, live as a Church, and serve our neighbor. Inner freedom, spiritual and human maturity, and the humility to keep listening and learning are as essential as knowing when and how to take a stand. In this journey, most of us recognize that, like the rich young man, we too have attachments that we must surrender in order to make progress as a Church that professes to be a sacramental sign of the Kingdom of God in the world. We recognize that we need grace to free us from ourselves, and from the many factors that limit our circle of concern, our scope of compassion.

Imagine if you were to ask Jesus the same question that the rich young man asked him. What would he say in response?  What other difficult questions do we hold in our hearts?
How might you lean on God’s love for you as you are, so that in gratitude and generosity, you might surrender what is holding you back from a more abundant life in discipleship? 

With you as siblings in Christ on this synodal journey,

David and the Discerning Leadership Team