Twenty eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Gospel Mark 10:17 30

Summary

This sermon from Mark 10:17-30 discusses the radical demands of discipleship, focusing on detaching from power, pleasure, and possessions to follow Jesus. It emphasizes that eternal life is a free gift, received with childlike dependence on God. The story of the rich young man illustrates the difficulty of detaching from material wealth. True discipleship involves going to Jesus for everything, trusting in Him rather than worldly comforts. Ultimately, Jesus promises that those who give up worldly attachments will receive far more in return, including eternal life.

Takeaways

• 😇 Discipleship is a key theme in Mark's Gospel, particularly regarding the challenges posed by power, pleasure, and possessions.
• 👶 Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God and eternal life are freely given, like gifts received with childlike dependence.
• 💰 The young rich man seeks eternal life but is too attached to his possessions to follow Jesus' advice to sell them and help the poor.
• 🛑 Possessions themselves aren’t the issue, but the man's unwillingness to share them and his emotional attachment to wealth is the problem.
• 🚫 Disordered attachment to power, pleasure, and possessions can prevent individuals from fully following Christ and receiving eternal life.
• 🙌 Detachment from worldly things is necessary for true discipleship, requiring one to place full trust and reliance on Jesus.
• 🙏 A true disciple seeks Jesus in everything, avoiding reliance on material possessions or power for comfort or fulfillment.
• 💡 Jesus looked at the young man with love, but the man missed this divine gaze because he was preoccupied with his possessions.
• 🎯 Eternal life is a free gift from God, not something that can be earned through personal efforts or status.
• 🌟 Jesus promises that those who give up worldly attachments for Him will receive a hundredfold reward, including eternal life, though they may face persecution.

Q & A

What are the three 'P's that can be obstacles to discipleship, as discussed in the script?

The three 'P's mentioned are power, pleasure, and possessions. These are seen as obstacles to receiving the Kingdom of God and achieving eternal life if one is overly attached to them.

How does Jesus use the example of a child in teaching about the Kingdom of God?

Jesus illustrates that the Kingdom of God, or eternal life, must be received like a child. This means acknowledging one's neediness and dependence, much like how children are dependent on their parents. This childlike dependence is essential for receiving eternal life as a free gift.

What was the challenge that Jesus posed to the rich young man, and why was it difficult for him to accept?

Jesus challenged the rich young man to sell what he had and give it to the poor, then follow Him. The young man found this difficult because he had a disordered attachment to his possessions, which made it hard for him to relinquish them, even for eternal life.

What does 'detachment' mean in the context of discipleship, according to the script?

Detachment refers to the process of freeing oneself from disordered emotional dependence on power, pleasure, and possessions. It means prioritizing a relationship with Jesus over these worldly attachments.

How does the script explain the concept of 'disordered attachment'?

Disordered attachment is defined as an emotional dependence on things such as possessions, power, or pleasure. This dependence can prevent a person from fully following Jesus and receiving eternal life.

Why is it important to place all trust and security in Jesus, according to the script?

Placing all trust and security in Jesus is crucial because worldly things like possessions or power cannot fulfill us. True discipleship means seeking emotional and spiritual support from Jesus alone, allowing Him to provide ultimate peace and satisfaction.

How does the script describe Jesus' gaze toward the rich young man?

The script notes that this is the only place in the Gospel where Jesus is described as looking at someone with love. His gaze of divine love was enough to transform the young man's heart, but the man missed it because of his preoccupation with his possessions.

What reward does Jesus promise to those who give up everything to follow Him?

Jesus promises that anyone who gives up possessions, family, or land for His sake will receive back 100 times more in this life, along with eternal life. However, they will also face persecutions.

What is the difference between how the Old Testament and the New Testament view wealth in relation to God's favor?

In the Old Testament, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor. However, in the New Testament, Jesus teaches that wealth can be an obstacle to entering the Kingdom of God if one is emotionally attached to it. Salvation is a free gift from God and cannot be earned by human achievement or wealth.

What is the ultimate goal of discipleship, as outlined in the script?

The ultimate goal of discipleship is to strive for eternal life, which is a free gift from God. Disciples are called to detach from worldly attachments and place their full trust in Jesus to experience true fulfillment and the Kingdom of God.