Proper 23, Pentecost 19
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10: 17-31
There is a Hindu fable about a monkey who was free in a jungle
in India. The people of the town would make a lot of money if
they could capture the monkey in order to send him to a zoo in
a country far away. One who knew about animals was consulted.
There was one fool-proof way to capture the monkey. A coconut
shell was hollowed out and filled with sweets. On one end of
the shell they drilled a small hole, just large enough for the
monkeys hand. The animal expert assured the people that this
was all that was needed. The monkey would put its paw into the
shell and would be captured.
One of the town's people asked, "if the monkey could
put its paw into the shell could it not simply take it out again
and run off?" The expert said, "Yes, in fact that was
possible." But he made no other provisions. The full coconut
shell was secured in the ground. In time the monkey came along
just as expected. When the monkey smelled the sweets, it scurried
to the shell and put its paw inside. Filling its paw with sweets,
the monkey could not remove the filled fist from the shell. A
net was thrown over the monkey and its freedom was the price
it paid for a handful of sweets.
I love these old fables. I guess because I can see myself
in their simple truths. This monkey lost its freedom because
of its desire to hold onto a handful of sweets.
The gospel story is about a similar dilemma. It's an extraordinary
text, full of twists and turns, confrontation and comfort. The
young man who runs up to Jesus is obviously a devoted follower
of the Hebrew law. How many of us could look at Jesus confidently
and say, "I have followed the 10 commandments from my youth."
Jesus who knows the heart looked at the man who was kneeling
down at his feet and loved him. He was an honest man who cared
deeply about serving God and now wanted to be sure that he would
be a part of God's kingdom forever.
Being a part of God's kingdom is about being free, free in
the Spirit, free in Christ. Our freedom has to do with the state
of our hearts and the freedom we find there to do that mysterious
and sometime elusive thing called "God's will.".
Being a participant in the Kingdom of God is not merely a
question of what happens to us when we die. Jesus clarified this
point by turning the man's question about eternal life into a
teaching about entering the Kingdom of God. One seems to be focused
in the future and the other has a focus in the here and now.
The important truth is that it is all one. As members of God's
kingdom, we have entered eternal life already and will continue
into more of the same when we die. Eternal life is now.
When the young man asked Jesus that question, "What must
I do?" Jesus essentially said to him, "You must be
free." Instead of asking him, "Now what is it that
you are attached to, Jesus cut to the chase as he always did
and zeroed in on the one thing that had the young man's heart.
Jesus says, "Go, sell, give and then come follow me."
What was holding him back? He had many possessions. In a recent
survey of people from a variety of economic conditions, each
group said they would have enough money if they had just a bit
more than they have now.
The problem is not simply one of wealth. A very wealthy person
may not be attached to his or her wealth and may able to share
it whenever the Spirit of God directs. The attachments of our
hearts, the beliefs we cling to, the fears that motivate us are
often at the root of our inability to let go and allow change
to enter our life.
Recently I learned of a young woman who had always had a difficult
relationship with her father. She married a wonderful Jewish
man and is raising her child in the Jewish faith and her father
did not approve. When her father died this past summer, she helped
with the funeral plans and had the reception at her own home.
His will left money to her brother and stated that absolutely
nothing was to go to her. The rejection was hurtful. Her brother
figured what half of the inheritance would be. He believed that
half rightfully belonged to his sister. I was so touched by the
story of his generous spirit, his willingness to do what is right.
It is possible for human beings to act with integrity and open
the fist that holds the sweets, and remain free.
Our attachments and our fearfulness around letting them go
is not going to be news to God. God who tenderly loves us, simply
wants us to be free to have open hands and hearts, free to act
with love and generosity, free to discern and do God's will.
God may call us to give time or talent. God may call us to give
money. God may call us to forgive, being generous in spirit.
God calls us to let go of what ever compromises our freedom -
whether it is a belief, or a fear, pride or a habit - Let go
of what keeps you from seeking GOD.
God loves us so deeply that God wants us never to trade our
freedom in Christ for a handful of sweets like our friend, the
greedy monkey.
We may cry out like the disciples, "Then who can do what
God requires?" Take heart, the answer then as now is that
with the mercy and grace of God "All things are possible".
Amen
