MAY272024

There is a way of looking at the story of the rich, young man which suggests a two-tiered spiritual life. There are the good people who keep the commandments and the better people who “sell what you have, and give to the poor; then come, follow me.” But in reality there is only one kind of Christian — the one who follows Jesus. The key to the passage is found at the beginning when Jesus objects when the rich, young man calls him good. “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” Jesus wants him to understand the goodness, the righteousness before God, is not an accomplishment. Rather it is a gift God bestows upon us. The call to “sell what you have” is a reminder that we can’t rely on anything that we have or do. We can only rely on God. Even though we do not have many possessions we do have things we cling to that make us feel good. The call is to give it all away and trust in God’s gift.