Ordinary Time - Week 28b
Rich Young Man
(From Conversation with God, Fernandez Carvajal)In today's Gospel St Mark recounts the story of the young man who preferred worldly goods to Christ himself. Jesus and his disciples were about to set off on their way to Jerusalem when a young man ran up and knelt before the Master. Good Teacher, he said, What must I do to inherit eternal life? The Lord replied that he should follow the Commandments as a sure path to salvation. The young man answered that he had followed the Law ever since he was a child. Jesus then looked at him, taking stock of the purity of this heart and the potential for generosity within it. And Jesus looking upon him, loved him. He loved him with a love of predilection. He invited the youth to follow him, setting aside and forsaking all that he possessed.
We may recall that St Mark is recording the catechesis of St Peter. He would have received all of the details from the lips of the Apostle. This explains the Evangelist's reference to the way Jesus looked at the young man. Peter would never forget the look of Jesus that changed the course of his own life! Jesus looked at him, and said, 'So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas'. Peter's life was never the same after that. Wouldn't it be wonderful to contemplate the look of Jesus! At times it is lofty and winning; or pained and sorrowful, as when he faced the incredulity of the Pharisees. There was his look of compassion for the deceased son of the widow of Naim. His look invited Matthew to rise up and follow him. It was able to move the heart of Zacchaeus to conversion. This was the look of love that beheld the poor widow in the Temple who gave all that she had. This penetrating look brings the soul face to face with God himself, inspiring contrition. That was the effect the look of Jesus had on the woman found in adultery and on Peter himself. On Holy Thursday night a mere glance caused Peter to weep bitterly for his cowardice.
Jesus looked with great affection at this bold young man. And he beckoned to him: 'Follow me.' Walk in my path! Stand by my side! Remain in my love! This is the invitation that perhaps we ourselves have received and we have followed him! Man needs this loving look He needs to know that he is loved, loved eternally and chosen from eternity. At the same time, this eternal love of divine election accompanies man during life as Christ's look of love. And perhaps most powerfully at the moment of trial, humiliation, persecution, defeat; when our humanity is as it were blotted out in the eyes of other people, insulted and trampled upon. At that moment the awareness that the Father has always loved us in his Son, that Christ always loves each of us, becomes a solid support for our whole human existence. When everything would make us doubt ourselves and the meaning of our life, then this look of Christ; the awareness of the love that in him has shown itself more powerful than any evil and destruction, this awareness enables us to survive.
Each person receives a personal call to follow the Master. If we respond to Christ's invitation we will be filled with peace and true joy. Authentic wisdom consists in saying 'yes' to each one of Christ's invitations in the course of our life. Open your own hearts to Jesus and tell him your story. This is the joy of giving one's self. What a contrast this is to the sadness of the rich young man who didn't want to heed the Lord's call!