Once again someone meets up with Jesus and strikes up a conversation. Today it is a young man who in all probability heard Jesus preaching to different crowds or heard about miracles that people were attributing to him, cures that were said to have taken place. The young man felt a stirring inside of him and was moved to ask Jesus what was this eternal life that Jesus talked about. Jesus answered him explaining the ten commandments.
It had to have been gratifying to Jesus to hear the young man say he lived those commandments; he had observed them from his youth. Jesus looked at him and was moved by his sincerity. But more than that, Mark said, and Jesus loved him. Stay with that for a moment. See that exchange as an everyday occurrence in the life of men and women then and today. See that as an occurrence in our lives today. We are making a sincere effort to live Christians lives and Jesus loves us for this.
But then Jesus told the young man that more was needed if he truly wanted to gain eternal life. The same is true for us. More is needed, however, the more that Jesus implied, sell everything you have and give to the poor is easier said than done. Jesus also knew this. He said as much. How hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God. His disciples asked, then who can be saved. Jesus again acknowledged that alone and by ourselves it is not always possible however with God by our side, all things are possible. With God at our side, all things are possible.
We are about to enter the season of Lent. Every year we are giving a special opportunity to embrace our inheritance. We heard Saint Peter describe for us this wonderful gift that God gave us through the passion, death, and resurrection of his son; how God in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Eternal life is no mystery for us who believe. It is true that we have not seen Jesus Christ as did his disciples and others, still we love him, we believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy as we strive to attain the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
Yes, it is hard work but not impossible to attain because all things are possible for God.
