so give me hope in the darkness

that i will see the light

 

 

 

Jesus'words in the Gospel this week are certainly demanding...

 

When the rich landowner asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, Jesus tells this man to give everything away to the poor (who, presumably, he defrauded to build his wealth).

Interpretations upon this pericope abound...

(I paraphrase)

Maybe when Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a wealthy person to enter G-d's reign alludes to a gate in Jerusalem called "eye of the needle." Supposedly this gate (which has absolutely no archeological evidence) required that the camel unload everything to get through the gate.

Or

Perhaps this call to sell everything and give it to the poor only applies to this man. Jesus' categorical demand is that people leave whatever it is that keeps them from following.

 

And so on.

 

While neither of the two examples are particularly true to Jesus' words, the personal interpretation seems to be least helpful. (Never mind that the simple act of trying to interpret these words away is a subtle redux of the rich man’s turning away.)

For starters, suggesting that this call to sell everything only applies to that man forgets that in Acts (Acts 1:45) the clear depiction is that followers DID sell everything. The second problem with this interpretation is that it ignores Mark's categorical suspicion of that any wealth could be accrued faithfully/honestly. Another problem with this interpretation is that misses Mark's subverting the perennially popular theological assumption that wealth necessarily means one is blessed by God.

Finally the problem with any attempt to tame Jesus' words is that we don't do followers of Jesus, ourselves or Jesus any favors with our interpretive gymnastics.

 

This particular episode puts on full display Mark's trust in an apocalyptic reversal. It is full of jabs at simplistic theology, suspicion, and solidarity. For Mark pious words don't matter; for Mark it is about concrete acts of justice. For Mark the piety of this person is radically undermined by his possessions (presumably because these possessions were accrued on systematic exploitation).

 

In an election year we shouldn't ignore that for Mark concrete acts of justice does include redistributing wealth to the poor. Regardless of how you see this redistributing happening, through progressive taxing or personal charity; Mark does expect wealth not to be hoarded, but used for the other.

Furthermore, (and perhaps this is too heavy-handed) in an election year we also shouldn't ignore Mark's suspicion of wealth. Mark is suspicious that many possesions can only be gained through a system of exploitation. Living after a recession caused (at least in part) by irresponsible and unethical banking practices that (among other things) exploited the poor and vulnerable, these suspicion should prove insightful.

 

Yes, Jesus' words are demanding.

But no, we don't do anyone any favors by trying to temper these words.

 

When the man first comes to Jesus he falls to his knees, a typical action by those seeking healing...

It also says that Jesus looks on this guy with love...

While Jesus does ask we completely divest ourselves of self-serving power, Jesus also demonstrates this way of life in deed and word. So then, perhaps Jesus asks us to give away our power, not because he is some kind of saddist, but for our own good/healing...

 

Finally, Jesus not only gives up any material possessions, he finally gives all of himself at the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus is lives out the words asked of us.