Mark 10:17-21 NRSVue
17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
An extraordinary meeting: Mark, the least poetical of the evangelists, throws
in details that bring it to life. Why does Jesus take issue with the man
calling him "good"? Then: /Jesus looking at him, loved him/ - something in
Jesus' gaze was unforgettable. Finally Mark does not spare us the shock and
grief of the man as he hears, and rejects, Jesus' invitation, or Jesus' calm
acceptance of that refusal. He will not do violence to our freedom.
Reflection
I consider this scene and wonder what it was that Jesus loved about the young
man. I allow myself time to think about what he loves about me - and I don't
move on until I do!
Reflection
Jesus may show me the one thing that is holding me back from freedom. I can
walk away or I can ask for help to deal with it.