The scene in St. Mark’s gospel where Jesus objected to being called “good” must have bothered Matthew because he changed the dialogue. In Mark: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” If anyone deserved to be called good it was Jesus! As the scene unfolds you come to understand where the objection comes from. The rich young man thought that becoming good was something you could attain if you worked at it hard enough. Jesus wanted him to understand that when we depend completely on God goodness comes as a gift. “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor” is not another commandment like the Ten but an invitation to rely on God alone for one’s happiness.
MAY282018
By Church Staff
