Psalm: Ps 106:34-37, 39-40, 43-44 -- Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people
Gospel: Mt 19:16-22
A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” - Matthew 19:16Friends,
A common thread comes up when discussing with people who are not Christian: "Well, I'm a good person, why shouldn't I get into whatever Heaven is?" Those who hold this belief will often confess that they are not perfect, but they are better than lots of people. Why should belief in some archaic man-in-the-sky be necessary?
In the gospel today, the wording of the young man struck me pretty hard. "What good must I do to gain eternal life?" and then, when told to follow the Commandments, he asks "which ones?" He seems to want to know either what is the bare minimum he can do to gain salvation, or what the magic formula is for attaining everlasting life.
Our faith, however, is not one of bare minimums. Not one of us can claim that we have followed the commandments completely. Not one of us can stand in the presence of the Lord and say that we did all that we could. There are no magic set of prayers or offerings that guarantee salvation, save one. The only way that we can be absolutely assured of eternal life is to lose all concept that we are "good enough." We must offer the only thing that we truly have: ourselves. We are saved through grace, granted us from the mercy of Jesus, when we choose to give ourselves to Him.
Unfortunately, the young man in the gospel goes away sad. He finds it too difficult to part with his possessions. Being "good enough" just got too hard. A lesson for us is that it is not in the possessing, but in the unwillingness to part with those possessions when necessary is the problem. It is built into us to attach to something, and so we can choose either passing things or eternal things. When one day this world ends, those who are attached to passing things will find that all they held is gone and bemoan their loss, but those who are attached to eternal things will find that they now hold all things and rejoice forever.
Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for this day. We are eternally grateful for the gift of your grace, which sustains us in this life and brings us everlasting joy in the next. Lord, heal us of our pride when we begin to think that we can gain salvation on our own. Teach us the peace that comes of giving ourselves to you. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
