The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

October 13, 2024

Dear Friends,

This coming Sunday we will hear in the Gospel of Mark (10:17-31) the familiar story of a man we typically call “the rich, young, ruler.”  Actually, Mark describes him only as rich.  In Matthew he is young and rich.  In Luke he is a rich ruler.  But put them all together and you get the rich young ruler. 

Could you ask for better adjectives to capture your image?  You could ask, but you wouldn’t get them.  First of all, he’s rich: he has lots of money to buy lots of things.  Secondly, he’s young.  He has many years ahead to enjoy his wealth, to spend it, to count it, to play with it.  He should have no worries about the meddlesome signs of aging appearing on his body, not with his thick head of hair, flat stomach, and naturally wrinkle-free face.  Thirdly, he’s a ruler.  He has power and influence to impose his will.  You know the old Mel Brooks’ movie line: “It’s good to be the king.”  Well, it’s even better to be the rich young ruler.  If he were to be among us today, you might envy him, you might hate him, but you’d never turn down an invitation to one of his cocktail parties. 

Nevertheless, something isn’t working for the rich, young, ruler.  Mark describes how he rushed up to Jesus with an anxious question, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  What Jesus had to say is troubling: “Go, and sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.”  What did the man do?  He went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 

This year it is not my turn to preach on the rich, young, ruler.  The task will fall to James Morton, and I am eager to hear what he has to say.  Why?  Because I have many possessions.  I have too many books, too many clothes, too many pairs of sneakers and shoes, and I keep buying more.  True, as a family we are always loading up boxes of things we no longer need, and taking them to Good Will.  But the ongoing job reminds me of what I’m told is true about painting the Eiffel Tower.  Workers start at the top and work their way down.  By the time they get to the bottom, it’s time again to start at the top. 

The challenge that the story of rich, young, ruler poses for us is how to be a good steward of our possessions.  How much is enough in a world of want?  What must I do to inherit eternal life?  I have no easy answers for you as I share these anxieties, but I suspect it is a lifetime struggle to arrive at a right relationship with the material order.  To say the least, it’s probably time for another trip to Good Will. 

See you in church.

The Rev. J. Donald Waring
Rector