Rich Young Man

A Reading from the Gospel according to Mark
     As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man      ran up,
     knelt down before him, and asked him,
     "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit      eternal life?"
     Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? 
     No one is good but God alone.
     You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
     you shall not commit adultery;
     you shall not steal;
     you shall not bear false witness;
     you shall not defraud;
     honor your father and your mother." 
     He replied and said to him,
     "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
     Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
     "You are lacking in one thing.
     Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
     and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 
     At that statement his face fell,
     and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
     Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
     "How hard it is for those who have wealth
     to enter the kingdom of God!" 
     The disciples were amazed at his words.
     So Jesus again said to them in reply,
     "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 
     It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
     than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 
     They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
     "Then who can be saved?"
     Jesus looked at them and said,
     "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. 
     All things are possible for God." 
     Peter began to say to him,
     "We have given up everything and followed you." 
     Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
     there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
     or mother or father or children or lands
     for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
     who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
     houses and brothers and sisters
     and mothers and children and lands,
     with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

     In the Gospel Reading for this Sunday, we hear once again of the meeting between Jesus and a Jewish man commonly referred to as “the rich young man.” A summary of this famous encounter would be that a disciplined, wise and bold young man runs to Jesus and asks, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” They go on to demonstrate that he has been a faithful and pious Jew in keeping the Law, but Jesus reveals that He wants more than his “legal” obedience to the Law. Rather, Jesus wants absolutely no barrier between Himself and those who love Him. Jesus asks the “rich young man” to urgently sell what he has and give it to the poor, which in turn will give him treasure in heaven. This would allow him to be free to follow Jesus.

    A point that should be emphasized here is that this young man represents all of us in that we have possessions, deemed “riches”, that our very attachment to is a block between ourselves and the Father. Consider how this person could have grown in virtue by doing what Jesus said. His wealth was likely gained by his skill and diligence in decision making and attention to detail. It is probable that he would have known how to give liberally and beneficently so that his wealth would have helped the most people possible in the best way possible. Jesus really challenges those who wish to follow Him to let go of these attachments in radical ways to grow closer both to God and to our neighbors. In this there is true freedom and true riches. What goodness does a chain made of gold have, if by it we are made slaves?

    This week has two very different saints that show us this type of love for God in action. On Monday, Oct. 4th we remember the life of St. Francis of Assisi who was raised in wealth and yet famously rejected both his father and his wealth to live a life of begging and abject poverty. Francis’s freedom, given to him by these actions, led to him becoming one of the most holy, cherished, and loving people who has ever lived. There is also on Sunday October 10th the feast of Teresa of Avila. St. Teresa is famous for being an exceptionally beautiful woman. She was so beautiful that even after she entered a Carmelite convent many of the bachelors of the town would visit her regularly, and for years she did not discourage it. In time, however, Teresa radically changed her life and decided to no longer treasure her beauty but rather abandon herself to God. She went on to reform the convents throughout Europe and dramatically affect Christian history. We ought to ask ourselves what things we call “wealth” God is hoping we give away for love of Him. St. Francis and St. Teresa, pray for us!


About the Author: Andrew Coleman is a sacred artist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He specializes in fine woodworking and woodcarving to create art for Churches and homes all across the United States. He loves to take the stories and symbols all throughout the Bible and Catholic tradition and make them part of a beautiful everyday experience in the places where we pray and live. He has been married for almost five years to Ashley Coleman.

Learn More About Red Stick Catholics

The Well is a weekly reflection series from Red Stick Catholics that was created to allow young adults from the Diocese of Baton Rouge to reveal how God is speaking to them through prayer and Scripture. Each reflection contains the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel, a reflection written by a young adult from the Diocese of Baton Rouge and prompts for how to pray with the Gospel and reflection during the week.