Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Mark 10:17–30

I was doing everything right—okay, not everything, but most things. I prayed every morning, no matter how exhausted I was. I hauled myself to daily Mass, no matter how inconvenient. I thoroughly examined my conscience, noting the number of times I fell short of God's glory. I kneeled and asked for God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation every week. Morally speaking, I believed I was in pretty good shape.

Then I walked into the confessional, and everything exploded. 

Idols were exposed and gentle rebukes were given, and if I had a tail, it would have been between my legs. Amazed and offended, I walked away sorrowfully, debating confessing my sins ever again. “So much for the mercy,” I muttered under my breath. “This is what you get for trying to be good?” I wondered: How is it possible that the more I try to obey God, the more offended I feel?

If you relate, we can learn much from “The Rich Man” (Mark 10:17–30).

To recap, a young man doing everything right, who knows and has observed the commandments since youth, approaches Jesus and asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Preacher Tim Keller pointed out that for a man doing everything right to ask this question, one can safely assume something is missing. It’s as if he asks, “What else can I do to ensure I get to heaven? What have I left out? What can you add, Jesus, to my life?”[1] Jesus wastes no time explaining precisely what must be done.

“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).

Jesus didn’t add a thing to his life. On the contrary, He invites him to lose things. And as it is written, it was at this saying that the rich man’s “face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Mark 10:22).

The rich man could have been one of the great disciples who rose and left everything and followed Him. And it makes you wonder, why did he walk away from Jesus? Why did he refuse the invitation (come, follow me) to go deeper with God? Isn’t this what he wanted? Didn’t he run up to Jesus and fall to his knees, sensing that something was keeping him from eternal life? Why did he walk away sorrowfully? My guess is the same reason we all walk away sorrowfully: Jesus got personal. 

Jesus didn’t say, “You know what you lack—you need to read more books about me!” Jesus didn’t suggest that a deeper understanding of theology or a lack of parish activities held him back. And Jesus didn’t say, “Well, look at you! You’re doing so much better than the other guys I’ve encountered. Keep up the good work, and I’ll see you in heaven!” Oh no. Jesus didn’t offer pleasant suggestions or praise him for his above-average efforts. Jesus did what Jesus does: He got personal.

Because Jesus loved the rich man (Mark 10:21), He skipped the small talk and got down to business by exposing his idol, the thing he trusted more than God—his money (Mark 10:23). Notice this man has no name. He is called "the rich man" because wealth has become his identity. If you’re beginning to squirm because you have been blessed with wealth, do not worry. Wealth can be good. In ancient times, it was believed to be a blessing from God. But this isn't just about money and our attitude toward it. It’s about anything we put our trust in that isn’t God. It’s about that one thing in which we root our identity. It’s the person, job, or success we treasure and place at the center of our hearts. God is our only treasure, and He knows we run into spiritual danger when we put idols before Him. And so, like a good Father, He calls us out. Pointing out sin isn’t about shaming; it is about shining. God shines a light on what stands in the way of our growing deeper in union with Him.

I will just say it: when God points out your sin, it hurts. When the Lord shines a light on your weaknesses, the temptation to run back into the dark runs deep. When we feel like we are doing our best, being a good person, reading the Bible, and putting our shopping carts back where they belong, it can feel incredibly unfair to have Jesus highlight the one thing you’re not doing right. And when this happens, we have a choice. We can be like the rich man; we can feel sad and walk away from God, and He won’t stop us. Or, we can be like the disciples whose names we know, who chose to grow in humility and keep walking toward God. We can choose God, even if we continue to wrestle with Him or get angry and dislike what He says. In the words of Tim Keller, “If this is where you are at, you are in good shape. If you haven’t been offended by God, you haven’t met Him.”[2]

Do you want to meet God? Do you want to know what you must do to inherit eternal life? If so, do as the rich man did: run to Jesus, fall on your knees, and ask Him, “What do I lack? What is keeping me from You?” But I warn you: do this, and there will be conflict, challenges, and sacrifice. Why? Because going deeper requires that we shine a light in the places we prefer to keep hidden. God doesn’t want some of us; “He wants us to be all in.”[3] We cannot have a personal relationship with Jesus if we refuse to let Him get personal. Ask Him what you need to do, and He will talk about what you need to lose, pointing out “the oozing wound at the center of your soul.”[4] Yes, Jesus will explode everything, and when He does, you have a choice. You can be offended and walk away sorrowfully. Or, you can sell what you have, give to the poor, and follow Him. 

Which will you choose?

Food for thought or journaling…

Have you ever been offended by God?

Has the Lord pointed out the idol you must lose to inherit eternal life?  How did you respond?

In Mark 10:24, Jesus says, “How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” What “riches” do you trust in more than God?

Dear Jesus, I want to know You personally but am afraid of getting personal. So, I am praying for more courage than fear, and I permit You to expose my wounds. Show me the treasure that is not You. Help me to receive Your guidance with an open heart. When I feel sorrowful or offended, do not let me walk away. I want to know what I must let go of to inherit eternal life. Please, Lord, show me what I lack. Jesus, I pray—get personal. Amen.

P.S. If this is an area of spiritual struggle for you, review Lesson 19 in Opening Your Heart: The Starting Point, What Challenges Will I Face in My Efforts to Follow Jesus More Closely? I found it incredibly helpful!

[1] Tim Keller, “Camels, Needles and Riches,” Tim Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life, August 11, 2023, https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/camels-needles-and-riches/.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Opening Your Heart, (Walking with Purpose, 2008-2015), 222.
[4] Tim Keller, https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/camels-needles-and-riches.