21st Sunday after Pentecost

The rich man who comes to ask Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life is a
good man, sincere in his asking. Mark’s gospel is alone in saying that Jesus looked
on him and loved him. Out of love, not as judgment, Jesus offers him an open door to
life: sell all you own and give it to the poor. Our culture bombards us with the
message that we will find life by consuming. Our assemblies counter this message
with the invitation to find life by divesting for the sake of the other.