Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30;
In today’s liturgy of the Word, king Solomon and a rich man approached God in prayer and both received what they asked for. Solomon got the spirit of wisdom (Wisdom 7:7) for which he was famous for and the rich man got an answer to his question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). In between, we hear a meditation on the power of God’s word (Heb. 4:12-13).
“And as he went forth into the way” (Mark 10:17). The word “way” has a special meaning in the Gospel of Mark. It refers to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, the place of the Cross and His resurrection. Thus, “follow me” (Mark 10:21) means to join Jesus on this journey. Moreover, one does not need great possessions to follow Christ. The rich man, whose name we do not know, can be contrasted with a blind beggar, whose name we know - Bartimaeus. The rich man went away grieving (Mark 10:22), the blind beggar after being healed, followed Christ on the way to Easter via the Cross praising God (Mark 10:52; Luke 18:43).
“Jesus looking at him loved him” (Mark 10:21). It is the same love (agape) that motivated God to send His only Son to the world (John 3:16); with the same love Christ loved us to the end (John 13:1) and laid His life for us (John 15:13). It is a demanding love. “One thing you lack: go, sell everything you possess, give it to the poor, [...] and come follow me” (Mk 10:21). Yet, it is also a liberating love. It can create a community where there are no needy persons and set us free for evangelization (see Acts 2:45; 4:34-37).
“You shall have treasure in heaven” (Mk 10:21). The book of Proverbs says: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done” (19:17). To all those, who answered Jesus’ call “follow me” (Mark 10:21.28; 1:17-20), our Lord makes this amazing promise: whatever they left behind, will be given to them a hundredfold in this time, and even “life eternal” (Mark 10:30) - the very thing that the rich man was inquiring about. Indeed, all good things come together in the company of wisdom (Wisdom 7:11).
Only the Gospel of Mark adds to Jesus’ amazing promise the phrase “but with persecutions” (Mark 10:30). Recalling the same promise, both Matthew and Luke omit this phrase (see Matt. 19:23-30; Luke 18:24-30). Why? According to ancient tradition, Mark wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s preaching in Rome during brutal persecution by Emperor Nero (64-68 CE). The one who spoke for those who left everything and followed Christ perhaps did not have a chance to see the work of “his son Mark” (1 Pet. 5:13). Before the Gospel was completed Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and many other brothers and sisters were placed “with the wild beasts” (Mark 1:13) - tortured for Christ and entered heavenly inheritance (Heb. 9:15).
The words of Christ that the rich man heard today are indeed “sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). It made him sad. Even sharper sound the words of Jesus about those having riches: “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” (Mark 10:25). The disciples were exceedingly astonished (Mark 10:26) asking: “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:26).
Yet, at the same time, “the word of God is alive and active“ (Heb. 4:12). It can do marvelous things in our lives when mixed with faith in those who hear it (Heb. 4:2). Thus, although no one can save himself, God "desires all men to be saved" (1 Tim. 2:4), and for "God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26)“ (see CCC, 1058). Amen.