Stuff - November 29
Today’s Readings:
AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130
Obadiah 15-21; 1 Pet. 2:1-10; Matt. 19:23-30
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is the verse that opens the reading from Matthew this morning in the Daily Office lectionary. If the chill of the weather doesn’t give us a jolt, then perhaps the Good News will snap us awake! These scriptures around wealth, faith, and heaven are some of the earliest I remember pondering. I continue to wrap my head and heart around these concepts.
What directly precedes this verse is the story of the young man who asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus responded that what one really must do is keep the commandments. The young man agreed that he was already doing all those right things. What was missing? Jesus answered, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Upon hearing this, the seeker left aggrieved. It was the possessions that were the hardest to give up.
And so, it is in this space that we follow Jesus’ teaching arc to the disciples and others around him. “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven,” he said. They responded in genuine concern, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus answered with a quip that rings of the wisdom of great sages three steps ahead, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
I say yes to Jesus’ statement. Of course, with God all is possible. And then I appreciate Peter, who brought the conversation back to this murky topic of possessions, faith, and heaven. And here’s what is on my heart this morning: all the stuff we crave – whether it is in a tiny box or hauled on a truck – brings us excitement and garners our attention. That is not bad or harmful. The problem is not the possessions; it is our relationship with them. What God wants is all of us; the Lord wants our attention focused on all things heavenly. Jesus wants us to be his followers.
When we are more attached to the things around us, we do not feel the deep need for the salvific gift that God offers us in Jesus. When we find ourselves in comfort and not needing much, we are distracted. And then, we feel that emptiness returning and seek other physical, tangible things to fill the yearnings within us. It is the human condition. We are apt to drift away from God. That is why staying grounded in scripture and prayer and Christian community is vital to spiritual health at any age.
If you have made it to the end of this reflection, you are taking steps to nourish your soul and deepen your own faith through pondering the Good News for us in the Bible. Whether the rhythm and depth of the psalms feeds you, or stories of human foibles reassure you, or the wisdom of Jesus’ friends gives you the pep talk you need to get through today, stick with it. And be mindful that things can distract us from the love of God.
With gratitude and God’s love,
Katherine+
Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:
What is your relationship with physical possessions? Take an honest assessment of your own life today. Reflect on where there are healthy attachments, and what might need some tweaking. Take this to God honestly in prayer and listen for where God is calling you lovingly to follow more closely.