Week 52 of the Church year
സ്ലീബാ പെരുന്നാളിനു ശേഷം ആറാം ഞായർ
A wealthy, devout man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He has kept the commandments all his life. Jesus tells him he lacks one thing.
A ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus lists commandments, and the man says he has kept them since youth. Jesus tells him to sell everything, give to the poor and follow him. The man goes away very sad, because he is very rich. Jesus says what is impossible for people is possible for God.
This is one of the last Sundays of the Church year. The Gospel asks what we still hold on to.
The ruler was close. One thing stood between him and following Jesus. Most of us have one thing too.
ഈ ഞായറാഴ്ചയുടെ വായനകൾ
Jesus blesses the children; the rich young man; with God all things are possible.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
Jacob will not let Benjamin go: everything is against me.
How lovely is your dwelling place; a day in your courts is better than a thousand.
Do not remember the former things; I am doing a new thing.
Paul is seized in the Temple and rescued by Roman soldiers.
A little yeast leavens the whole batch; Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
The rich ruler: one thing you lack; with God all things are possible. This is the Gospel of the day.
Open in five scenesJacob refuses to let Benjamin go to Egypt, holding on to the son he has left. The psalm longs for the courts of the Lord, and Isaiah says God is doing a new thing. Paul tells the Corinthians to clear out the old yeast.
References follow the official lectionary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Your parish may read them in a different order.
Pick a scene to see what happens in it and what is easy to miss.
A ruler asks: Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answers: why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
Jesus is not denying he is good. He is asking whether the man realises who he is talking to.
You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, honour your father and mother. He replies: I have kept all these since I was young.
Jesus lists only the commandments about other people. He leaves out the ones about God, and about coveting.
Jesus says: you still lack one thing. Sell all you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. The man becomes very sad, for he is very rich.
The command ends with “follow me”. Giving things up is the door, not the destination.
Jesus looks at him and says: how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
Mark says Jesus looked at him and loved him (Mark 10:21). His words come from love, not judgment.
Those listening ask: then who can be saved? Jesus answers: what is impossible for people is possible for God.
In the very next chapter, a rich man, Zacchaeus, gives half his goods to the poor (Luke 19:8). The impossible happens.
The verse to keep
“അതിന്നു അവൻ: മനുഷ്യരാൽ അസാദ്ധ്യമായതു ദൈവത്താൽ സാദ്ധ്യമാകുന്നു എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.”But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
The rich rulerധനവാനായ പ്രമാണി
A wealthy, law-keeping leader who wants eternal life.
“—”
Peterപത്രൊസ്
Speaks up next to say the disciples have left everything (Luke 18:28).
“Rock”
ഇനി ഒരു കുറവ്
The rich ruler is easy to like. He is sincere, devout and serious about eternal life. He has kept the commandments since he was a boy. He comes to Jesus with a good question. And he goes away sad, because the answer costs more than he can give.
Jesus puts his finger on one thing. For this man, it was his wealth. It might have been something else for someone else: a relationship, an ambition, a comfort, a grudge. Whatever we cannot let go of to follow Jesus has quietly become our master.
The Church year is ending, and soon it begins again at Koodosh Eetho. It is a good moment to ask what one thing stands between us and following Jesus more closely. Letting go feels impossible. Jesus does not deny that. He says only that with God, it is possible.
കുടുംബമായി സംസാരിക്കാം
If Jesus said to you “you lack one thing”, what do you think he would name?
Two minutes after the audio. Everyone gets a turn, and nobody is interrupted.Give away one thing you are attached to, to someone who needs it more.
Lord Jesus, you looked at the rich young ruler with love. Look at us with love, show us the one thing we lack, and give us grace to let go and follow you, for with God all things are possible. Amen.
The whole year
Every Sunday of the Church year, season by season: readings, the Gospel and a question for the family.
Sunday 6 of 6 in Sleeba