A waiter comes to your table with a bottle of rich wine to serve, and as he prepares to fill your glass, he notices that it is already filled with water. There is no room for wine. When our cups are filled already, there is no room for something else.
This is true of our walk with Jesus. If the “glasses” of our hearts are already filled to capacity, then there is no room for him. Today we read about a God-fearing man who sincerely wanted to follow Jesus. When he heard Jesus talk about eternal life, he wanted some of it. Trouble is, his “glass” was filled with something else (Mark 10:17-30).
“As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is “good but God alone.’”
What’s going on here? Jesus was certainly a good person; why didn’t he accept the compliment? The man ran to Jesus eagerly, knelt at his feet humbly, and complimented him by calling him “good.” Was this man used to winning his teachers over so that they would befriend him and give him what he asked for? Flattery did not work with Jesus.
Jesus continued:
“You know the commandments: You shall not kill…honor your father and mother.”
“He replied and said to him, ‘Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.’ Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go sell what you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’”
Jesus loved the man. He was touched by his humility and desire to get closer to God. He was among the minority who kept the commandments of God since he was a teenager. Jesus wished that the man would become one of his disciples. There was, however, a problem. Jesus could read the man’s soul and see that his “glass” was already filled with riches and possessions. He then spoke the toughest words that could be said to the man…”Go sell what you have.” Selling what he had would not only free the man up to follow Jesus, it would also store up abundant riches in heaven. It was a no-brainer. And, the result would be the gift of eternal life.
“At this statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
What a sad story. The man forfeited eternal life because he couldn’t let go of his possessions. At his death he would have to leave his possessions behind and yet the gift of eternal life would continue in him. Yes, the man felt deeply sad because he couldn’t dump “the water” out of his glassto make room for “the wine” that Jesus was putting before him.
In the first reading (Wisdom 7:7-11) we see the anticipation of eternal life and its value over all earthly goods.
“I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne and deemed riches nothing in comparison to her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand…Beyond health and comeliness I have her.”
The author of Wisdom devoted himself to being in union with God. He realized that this was more valuable than power, riches, beauty, and even health. Compared to wisdom, gold was as sand. Wisdom was a beautiful lady who was more important to him than anything else.
We run up to Jesus today and ask him what we must do to inherit eternal life. He looks at us with love and shows us the “one thing” we lack. What is this for me today?
Jesus, give me the grace to let go of anything in my life that keeps me from following you.
