THE Gospel of Mark today says: Mark 10: 13-16 ”People were bringing their little children to him to have him touch them, and the disciples rebuked him for this. When Jesus noticed this he was very angry and said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and, laying his hands on them, blessed them.
Just as Jesus was sitting out on his journey again, a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, “Good master, what must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.” The man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood.”
Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, “For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.” On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful, for he was a man of great wealth.
On another note – This man asked Jesus the way that leads to eternal life; but Jesus does not have any new commandment to teach. In the Old Testament everything had already been said about what a person should do to win eternal life: by observing the commandments of justice and compassion. Now Jesus proposes to him a new way and new experience of liberty, through becoming his follower and imitator.
Happiness does not consist in leaving all one has, but in being free of it all in order to submit oneself to Christ.
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