Mark, My Words: October 10, 2021
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A junior officer in a company decided to encourage co-workers by telling them how he admired them, giving them a blue ribbon. His own boss, Tom, was a crabby workaholic, but the worker felt Tom was truly a creative genius, so he told him so. Tom was stunned, but he accepted the ribbon gratefully.
That night, Tom told his son Sam that story. “Imagine! He told me I’m a creative genius, and to pin a ribbon on me makes a big difference in my world. Tom continued and said to his son, Sam, I know my days are hectic and I yell at you too much. I’m sorry—and I love you.” Sam began to cry. He then said, “Dad, I just finished writing a letter to you and mom—it’s upstairs on my bed. After you went to bed, I was planning to commit suicide tonight. I didn’t think that you cared at all.”
How incredible that moment of astonishment must have felt! Both looked to be living “normal” lives; yet, neither felt appreciated or loved for who they were. There is a similar moment of astonishment in the gospel today when Jesus teaches a hard lesson: We are not saved by our virtue. The rich young man could proudly say, “I’ve kept all the rules.” Yet, he could not give up the one thing Jesus asked of him: his attachment to his possessions.
“Follow me,” Jesus asks us, beyond all your money, your houses, your job, all you hold dear… to a state of living that puts it all in perspective. The kingdom of God demands the depth of self-giving, all-inclusive love. That is a far cry from just keeping the rules.