to Enter God's Kingdom
Part 1: Mark 10:17-27
As I reflect on this powerful Gospel passage through the lens of my faith, I am continually struck by the encounter between Jesus and the rich young man. The scene begins with such promise—a man runs up to Jesus, kneels before him, and asks the most fundamental question any of us can pose: "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
In my spiritual journey, I've asked this same question countless times in prayer. What must I do? How can I be saved? The rich man's earnestness resonates with me. He doesn't approach Jesus casually but with urgency and reverence. He runs. He kneels. He addresses Jesus as "good teacher." There is genuine seeking in his heart.
Jesus' initial response is striking: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." Our tradition sees in this response not a denial of Christ's divinity but an invitation to recognize it. Jesus subtly asks the man: Do you understand who you're speaking to? Do you recognize that you're identifying me with God in calling me good? The question establishes the framework for everything that follows.
Jesus then directs the man to the commandments—the foundational moral law that our Church still upholds as essential. "You know the commandments: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother."
The man's response reveals his sincerity: "Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy." I'm struck by how Jesus responds to this claim. Mark tells us, "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Before challenging him, Jesus first looks at him with love. This moment reveals the heart of Christ—he sees us, knows us intimately, and loves us before asking anything of us.
Then comes the challenge that cuts to the heart: "One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
I see in this moment not just a command about material possessions but a fundamental truth about discipleship. Jesus identifies precisely what stands between this man and complete surrender—his wealth. The man's face falls, and he goes away sad, "because he had great wealth." Many in the world today sadly stay away from their faith, precisely because of this reason.
This leads to one of Jesus' most challenging teachings: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" He elaborates with the famous image: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
The disciples are astonished, as am I when I genuinely contemplate these words. If even the wealthy - those seemingly blessed by God - cannot easily enter the kingdom, then "Who can be saved?" they ask.
Jesus' answer is the heart of my faith: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Salvation is not something I can earn or achieve through my own efforts. It is God's grace that makes possible what seems impossible to human understanding. This truth is foundational to our understanding of salvation—we cooperate with grace, but the power comes from God alone.
I've experienced the tension between seeking security through success and status versus humbly surrendering to Jesus. In the past, I have enjoyed significant wealth with substantial money flowing through my hands weekly for many years. This proved to be both a distraction and a false sense of security that ultimately created distance in my relationship with Jesus. I've found it more fulfilling to live with just what I need, while helping others - moving away from self-centeredness, that to me was sadly disguising - selfishness. God distributes blessings differently among us, and sharing our abundance creates eternal value that hoarding wealth for ourselves cannot, especially knowing others are in need.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
