Mark 10:17-27
Kneeling before God (or anyone), is at the very least a sign of reverence, perhaps submission,worship and love. I was in that position when I was ordained, kneeling before the Bishop. It was a very powerful and special moment in time for me. How many of us can picture ourselves kneeling in a pew or at a church rail looking for guidance, acceptance or a solution to a problem? We may be deep in prayer asking God for help. Kneeling certainly conjures up many images.
When we submit ourselves do we know what we are asking for? Do we already have in mind what we want? The young man in this scripture passage, knelt before Jesus, perhaps instinctively but he asked what he had to do to achieve eternal life? Perhaps he was looking for a pat on the shoulder saying you are already doing it all, you are a shoe-in for eternal life. It says the man was shocked when Jesus gave him an answer he was surely not expecting.
Part of total submission is not knowing what the answer is going to be, where you will be lead. It involves intimate trust. If it was a human, you can never be sure you will not be disappointed. With God the issue is our hearing is not as good as His voice. It takes clarity, faith and true listening to hear the answers that God gives to us.
Two things are certain from this reading, the road to salvation begins with adherence to the law. Jesus gave two great commandments which encapsulate all other laws. Second, put your focus and your faith in God who loves you immeasurably, not in worldly riches and belongings.
Kneeling before God (or anyone), is at the very least a sign of reverence, perhaps submission,worship and love. I was in that position when I was ordained, kneeling before the Bishop. It was a very powerful and special moment in time for me. How many of us can picture ourselves kneeling in a pew or at a church rail looking for guidance, acceptance or a solution to a problem? We may be deep in prayer asking God for help. Kneeling certainly conjures up many images.
When we submit ourselves do we know what we are asking for? Do we already have in mind what we want? The young man in this scripture passage, knelt before Jesus, perhaps instinctively but he asked what he had to do to achieve eternal life? Perhaps he was looking for a pat on the shoulder saying you are already doing it all, you are a shoe-in for eternal life. It says the man was shocked when Jesus gave him an answer he was surely not expecting.
Part of total submission is not knowing what the answer is going to be, where you will be lead. It involves intimate trust. If it was a human, you can never be sure you will not be disappointed. With God the issue is our hearing is not as good as His voice. It takes clarity, faith and true listening to hear the answers that God gives to us.
Two things are certain from this reading, the road to salvation begins with adherence to the law. Jesus gave two great commandments which encapsulate all other laws. Second, put your focus and your faith in God who loves you immeasurably, not in worldly riches and belongings.
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’
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