Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B October 14, 2018

First Reading
Wisdom 7:7-11
Wisdom is preferred above gold and silver.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 90:12-13,14-15,16-17
The Lord fills us with love and joy.

Second Reading
Hebrews 4:12-13
The Word of God exposes the heart.

Gospel Reading
Mark 10:17-30 (shorter form Mark 10:17-27)
A man with many possessions asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life.


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we continue reading the Gospel of Mark from where we left off last
Sunday. Last Sunday our Gospel told how Jesus was tested by the Pharisees
about the requirements for divorce. Recall that these chapters come from
the second part of Mark's Gospel, which chronicles the beginning of Jesus'
journey to Jerusalem.

In today's Gospel, an unnamed man approaches Jesus and inquires about what
he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replies that one must follow the
commandments of the Law of Moses. The man acknowledges that he has
observed all of these since his childhood. Jesus then says that only one
thing is lacking: he must give his possessions to the poor and follow
Jesus. The man leaves in sadness, and Mark tells us that this is because
he had many possessions.

The belief in resurrection and eternal life was a relatively recent
development in Jewish thought at Jesus' time, and it wasn't shared by
everyone. The Pharisees taught that there would be a resurrection from the
dead; the Sadducees did not share this belief. Jesus taught that there
would be a final judgment for everyone and eternal life (the Kingdom of
God) for believers.

Jesus makes two requirements of the wealthy man who approaches him. First,
he must give up his possessions. Throughout history, some Christians have
taken this literally. Their example witnesses to us a radical commitment
to the Gospel of Jesus. Some have read this as a particular requirement
directed to this specific individual. Still others have sought to explain
the meaning intended by the word possessions as those things that prevent
one from following Jesus. Christians have generally understood that at the
least, following Jesus requires that believers hold material possessions
loosely and remain vigilant against seeking security in accumulating
possessions.

The second requirement Jesus makes of this man is the invitation that
Jesus extends to all would-be disciples: "follow me." Jesus very much
wants this man to be his disciple. We believe that the Christian faith is
one in which each believer is in a personal relationship with Jesus. Just
as this Gospel tells us that Jesus loves the man and is sad when he
departs, so too, Jesus loves us and is saddened when we are unable to
follow him.

We see in this Gospel reading another example of Mark's pattern, which
shows Jesus offering further elaboration about his message and meaning to
his disciples. To his disciples, Jesus laments the challenges faced by
those who are rich in following him and entering the Kingdom of God. In
reply to the disciples' astonishment at the strictness of the standard
that Jesus speaks about today, Jesus reminds his disciples that nothing is
impossible with God. Salvation is determined by our ability to rely
completely upon God.

Peter replies to Jesus by boasting that the disciples have already given
up everything. Jesus acknowledges that those who have given up everything
for the sake of the Gospel will be rewarded. This reward begins now, in
the new community that one will gain in this life, and will continue in
the eternal age to come. Our personal relationship with Jesus is also an
invitation to the community of faith, the Church.


Family Connection

Today's Gospel might make us uncomfortable about our possessions. This
discomfort offers us an opportunity to consider our possessions and our
family's commitment to the poor. Material possessions are a necessity in
our culture. Our use of these possessions and our attitude about their
importance is our choice, however. It is a choice we can make with the
awareness that our faith in Jesus commits us to show our care for the
poor.

As you gather as a family, consider together these questions: Would it be
possible to inventory our possessions? Are there things in our house that
we no longer need or use? What might we do with these things? Read
together today's Gospel, Mark 10:17-30. Talk about the warning about
material possessions that Jesus gives in this Gospel. How does this make
you feel? Choose an action that helps your family show its commitment to
the poor. Conclude by praying together the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings