Jesus affirms that the rich young man is right in his recognition that Jesus is ‘more’. We can learn, with the rich young man, something very important from Jesus here. Simply obeying the Ten Commandments is not all that is required. For us, just going to church on Sundays and obeying the rules is not enough.
Jesus has clearly told us
that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and the second is to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. When you love someone, you give them your time, your gifts, and your labour, but the last thing of all is your heart – because this is giving yourself fully. Obeying rules and attending church is a good start, but on its own, it is not loving God with all your heart.
This is what Jesus sees
in this young man. He has made a good start and knows that Jesus can help him to grow further. Will he be able to follow the advice? Jesus can see what is missing. This young man is very deeply attached to his possessions. We may be attached to other things, such as power, status, work, education, shopping, addictions, and thoughts. The rich young man’s heart is already filled with his wealth. Can he let go of that which fills his heart, traps him, and has him stuck? He is well-intentioned but
has not yet learnt that freedom is having a heart that has let go of all else and seeks only to be open and receptive to God. Only then will he be capable of fully loving God. This is a heart-to-heart connection, a true relationship. When you experience the Holy Spirit, you feel fully alive.
Then we offer the love we receive from God to all God’s creation – “your neighbour.” We see then that religion is not only about rules
but really about relationships.
What fills my heart?
What will I let go of to make space in my heart for God?
Who is Jesus for me?
What would I like to fill my heart?
“Love is the beauty of the soul.” Augustine of Hippo.
Reflections by Kath Knowles
