Gospel Reflections for October 11 2015
Religious freedom and Jesus
Every political candidate hopes to have a campaign event or speech that changes everything and guarantees victory on Election Day. Jesus had that chance in today’s Gospel, but it did not turn out well.
Jesus came to Galilee with a great reputation. He is “polling” well! He enters a town accompanied by a large and curious crowd when a well-known rich young man approaches with a question about eternal life. (Since most people were poor, a rich young person would have been well-known and important.)
This was a chance to impress the crowd by converting this rich and highly influential young man. If Jesus could produce a victory here, His fame would spread even faster.
He answers the man’s question clearly and concisely, however, it does not convince him …and the young man walks away. What is interesting is what Jesus does next, which is …nothing! He does not run after him seeking to make yet another case for conversion. He respects the man’s religious freedom to decide for himself. Jesus is sad, and looks at him with love, but would not interfere with his personal decision.
In the parable of the Lost Sheep, the Good Shepherd goes after the lost sheep because it wants to come home but just does not know the way. The rich young man was not lost. He had just had eternal life clearly and concisely explained to him by the Messiah Himself, and rejected it.
We do not know for certain what became of that young man, but many scholars today believe that this person in the Gospel of Mark, is actually …Mark himself! They believe that at some later time Mark had changed, and came back to the Lord, and then years later wrote the story of that first meeting where Jesus respected his freedom into his own Gospel account.
Religious freedom is in the news a lot these days, whether about Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the Middle East or the ability of Catholic Hospitals or even court officials to stay true to their Christian mission against a government mandate. Religious freedom was the central focus of Pope Francis address to Congress and the United Nations as well.
I know parents sometimes struggle with children who seek another religious path at times (especially after going to college!). It is hard to make general guidelines because these cases are so individual. But this Gospel makes a good general case for religious freedom for adults, and that when we are allowed to be free; it is more likely that we will eventually come around to the truth, perhaps just like Mark, the rich young man.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Believe it makes perfect sense that Mark or someone like him, would have had to consider all the serious
ramifications of Jesus’ words before making a lifetime commitment. It also makes perfect sense that a seriously committed candidate for religious life would do the same after a time of thoughtful and prayerful meditation. In other words, Mark’s young man could be considered the role model for any seeking a vocation to religious life.
Well said! I like your idea that Mark took some time to consider this life changing decision before “signing on.” In that sense, he is a great model for vocations.
I didn’t think about what Jesus could have thought. Yes, getting and wealthy and upright person to follow him would have been a real feather in his cap. A lot of people would have thought of that today, I know it happens in business.
I also thought of the choices that we make. Knowing the temptations and what God wants. When He says “follow me”, it is unconditional. It isn’t always as easy as that. Someone mentioned today that as we pray to think of one thing we want God to change in our lives that we struggle with and all I could think was, “which one” Your statement made me think that Jesus could have thought that as He was as a human tempted as we are. So with His strength we can overcome. That was encouraging.
I don’t know if I am getting off on a tangent but reading this weeks Pasha I was thinking of how the earth was a mess and out of that He created a beautiful garden to live in. Out of the mess in our lives He can make something beautiful if we let Him.
I remember when we read of the 4 years in the dessert they got into trouble 10 times. When you read it you think that it all happened at once. It took time to build up, it wasn’t just one thing after another. like it seems when you read it. We need to look at what built up in our lives to get us into those situations. I have been following up on what is happening in the meeting with the Cardinals. Wow. We need to pray for the Church. But this also didn’t just happen over night and we need to pay better attention to not only our own lives but the Church leaders. I pray that they follow God’s word and that I in turn will also.
You have written some very beautiful insights! I like your image of God making a garden out of a mess, which means He can do the same with us. I also like your insight into the number of times the Israelites failed over a ten year period, which was only four, and that it takes time for things to build up. Thank you!
Father Dave, I love your concept that the rich young man could possibly be Mark of the Gospel!!! With his religious freedom, he thought, pondered and recognized the beauty of eternal life!! That whatever he possessed did, not compare to the joy and happiness of living in God’s presence forever!!! To follow Jesus was the way to eternal happiness!!! Jesus wants our love and our heart to be His!!! We have to freely decide to follow Him!!!The beauty of the young man being Mark is that their is hope for all of us in life for when we might wander, we have an example of a young man turning away from Jesus and then returning and becoming a saint as Mark did!!! Love our precious Faith!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Dear Fr. Dave,
As a Great Grandmother, your thoughts on Mark give me great hope for our (well educated) children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Thank you very much.
God Bless you always!
.
Please be assured of my prayers for them!
He went away sad… It is sad when we have to face our worldly attachments and how they keep us from bringing our camel into the temple.
I agree that young adults are easily lead astray by the new “Spiritualism” that is prevalent today. It reminds me of the hippy culture of the 1960’s and 1970’s. It is a rebellion phase that occurs during the college years. My daughter views mass as a social club for parents and not a time to worship. How as parents do we set an example for our adult children to return to church?
The only example you can set is to be joyful about your own faith.
I like the photo that you chose for this Gospel commentary. Pope Francis respects religious freedom, but to be truly free, we have to start with (and stay with) doctrines that are true. I am glad that he will have the final say in the outcome of the Synod taking place in Rome. He is the good shepherd whose words will lead people to eternal life.
He has already given many speeches in the last year on all the topics of the Synod, and all were beautiful affirmations of our faith. I doubt he will contradict himself! I believe the guiding principle behind the Synod was how to strengthen families, not redefine them or confuse them. I am confident we will see documents about which we can be proud.