I've always loved the rich young ruler as a sympathetic anti-hero. He's young, wealthy, powerful, and spiritually earnest. He asks the right questions. But his story comes to a bad end, and so he's not a traditional hero.
When he asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus shocked him with a challenge he couldn't have anticipated: divest yourself of all your wealth, distribute it to the poor, then follow me in my peripatetic ways. That was too much, and so the story concludes: "he went away sad."
In fact, many wealthy people have answered this call of Jesus. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their obedience and generosity. They did not flinch or blink.
Melania the Elder (d. 411) is one of my spiritual heroines. Born to an aristocratic family in Spain, at the age of twenty-two she was widowed, had lost two sons, and was one of the richest women in the Roman Empire. In her early thirties she hired a trustee for her remaining son, then sailed to Alexandria. There she sold her possessions, "changed her holdings into gold," and spent six months "making the rounds of the desert and seeking out the holy men."
St. Melania the Elder
In Jerusalem she built a monastery and befriended another wealthy aristocrat named Rufinus: "And so for twenty-seven years they both entertained with their own private funds the bishops, the solitaries, and women who visited them… So much wealth did she spend in holy zeal." Churches, monasteries and prisons were her beneficiaries, indeed, "no one failed to benefit by her good works."
I wonder what happened to the rich young ruler. The early church prized his story so much that it occurs in all three synoptic gospels. Whereas it's easy to take a cheap shot at rich people, the gospel says that "Jesus looked at him and loved him." I think this is because he was straight up honest, with himself and with Jesus. He didn't try to have it both ways. There were no rationalizations about special circumstances, no pious excuses, no attempt to negotiate a compromise. He counted the cost, looked at his life, and turned his back on Jesus. He was married to his money; divorce was impossible.
A few weeks ago I failed a much easier test when a beggar asked me for help in the Costco parking lot. I turned him away, and as I did, I felt my heart shrivel a little. A few days later I was grateful for a do-over at the farmer's market. I've thought a lot about those two experiences in light of this week's gospel. What was going on? Was I really worried about $5? Surely there were deeper issues. One thing's for sure; whereas I might have helped the poor with a small handout, the poor definitely helped me with an opportunity to imitate God's generosity.
There is a famous prayer written by Thomas Merton which may help us find our way as we strive to follow Jesus in the way that leads to eternal life through the great generosity of God…
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Adapted from: “At Least He Was Honest: The Rich Young Ruler”
Dan Clendenin – Journey with Jesus
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Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
MAY GOD’S BLESSING ABOUND ALL THE MORE – IN 2024!
May God Bless you and yours as we journey in this Pentecost Season…
May God’s Spirit empower us to
“expect great things from God and to attempt great things for God”… and
May God Continue to Bless Union Church!
-Pastor Mark
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