The Big
Loser
I wonder
what we're missing
I wonder
what's already gone
It's easy to
miss stuff
to lose stuff
It’s easy to
be afraid
to miss stuff
to lose stuff
It’s not so
easy to get rid of stuff
but it’s not
so bad
the key is
to
focus
to
keep close to you
to be
single-minded about
what
really matters
so as to
avoid confusion
Go
Sell
Give
and
Follow
Jesus says
to one man
whom he
looked upon with loving regard
perhaps with
sorrowful compassion
perhaps with
joy
confident
that
the grieving
over
many
possessions
would
not last
what would
last
would
be
the
invitation
The
invitation
come
– follow me
put that
stuff
to
good use
release it
set it free
free
yourself of
the
burden
that is
bearing you down
and then
come
to me
That final
command
is the
closer – the purpose
for one man
– and one church
the only
promise Jesus gives the man
who grieves
– for he has
many
possessions –
is to
receive treasure in heaven
once he is
free of what is holding
him
to earth
what does
that mean? I’m not sure
but the
story does not end there
Jesus
goes on to say,
then
come follow me
the man goes
off, grieving
but does
grief last forever? (Joy comes in the morning)
or does he
go
finally
like the son
who said no
but
then went and did it
what
his Father commands
How hard it
is to enter the kingdom of God!
for
those who have wealth
for
any body
for it is
right there
his hand is
open
offering
it to you
but you have
to open yours to grasp it
and like the
monkey with his fist
in
the jar
stuck
clenched
full of filberts
you may have
something to let go too
to lose …
wealth
home
health
identity
possessions
what
possesses you:
anger,
resentment
fear itself
(false
sources of security and comfort)
to gain…
the promise
is
he
will be there
he
is already there
he
is already here
take my
hand, open yours
follow me,
and
grasp hold
of the treasure
that is
heaven –
How do you
grasp hold of heaven?
How do you
grasp hold of his hand?
and
follow?
How do you
learn how to follow?
learn from
his teachings
his
ways
his
practices
follow
and
see.
His people
join
in this common pursuit
You are not
alone in this
the
people of God are
the
people of the promise (Francis
Baur, Life in Abundance)
the people
who choose to respond
(perhaps
after much grieving)
to the
invitation
to
follow
to
receive the Spirit
to
share the relation
Jesus
has with his Father, his source:
Rowan
Williams, Where God Happens (Boston, 2005) p. 114:
“That the
church will not fail is one promise we can trust. This is for the simple reason
that the church is above all the community of those whom Jesus calls to receive
the Spirit and to share the relation that he has to his Father, his source.
Because Jesus does not stop issuing that invitation, the church does not stop
existing.”
That
relationship
that source
makes
it possible for us
to let go of
our stuff
respond to
his call
and follow.
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 23
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
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