Just One More Thing…
Picture it: the rich man encountering Jesus Christ. Face to face, as they look into each other’s eyes. People hear the commotion, inching closer. Can you feel the tension? The rich man, feeling quite well about himself I am sure, asking Jesus if there is more.
You follow the commandments, you say? You are a good person, you say? That’s great. But it’s not enough…
Give it all. I mean everything. Quit holding back. Stop waiting for someone else to do it for you. What is stopping you? You have already gone this far in your faith. Sure, it’s not going to be easy. What I ask never is. If you want easy, than you are looking in the wrong place. But you know you don’t want easy. You have come too far to quit now. It’s just one more thing. Too much you say? No. It’s not too much. Do you know what I have in store for you in my Father’s kingdom?
Why are you walking away disappointed? This is a joyous moment in your life. A moment where you have been given the key to your salvation! It’s so difficult for you to enter with so much wealth. Do you not understand? I want your heart to be free. I desire to give you my Father’s house.
These words, not verbatim Gospel text, of course, are my prayer. These are the words that I imagine the Lord saying to me. And we all know these words are not easy words for any of us to hear. I mean, quite frankly, in last Sunday’s Gospel, our Lord is calling us out. You’re not rich you say? Who cares? Christ makes his point very clear.
But…but…
No buts. No excuses.
Simply speaking, our Lord is asking us to put away what is separating us from Him. I have said and heard many excuses over the years. It’s not convenient. I’ll wait until I’m old. The road is too difficult, etc.
Like the rich man, our Lord also stares into our own eyes, loving us with that same love. Whispering, ever so sweetly, ever so lovingly… get over your self!
I know, I know, not the most charitable example of what our Lord is saying to each of us. Nonetheless, He is calling us to give of ourselves entirely. He is calling us to live no longer with the vision of this world, living instead with a renewed perspective that looks to eternity. There may be tension; there may be commotion. Whatever the case, with a free and virtuous heart, we will pass through that ‘narrow gate.’
This week, whether it be in our schools, homes or workplaces, let us ask the Lord for an empty heart. A heart completely emptied from the riches of the world. Then, and only then, will we fit through that narrow gate too eternal life.