March 13                                                                                          Mark 10:17-31

 

 

Mark 10: 24-25 (English Standard Version)

“And the disciples were amazed at his words.  But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' "

 

 

 

I'm sure that many of you feel very uncomfortable reading this passage. I know I do.  My annotated Bible indicates that Jesus may be assuming that the man has accumulated his wealth by defrauding the poor thus actually stealing.  This may help to ease our minds a bit because we feel that we have earned our way honestly.  I would guess that most of us try to follow the commandments, make charitable donations, and to be good, caring people.  Is this enough?  Do we need to divest ourselves of all our worldly goods?  During this Lenten season, let us prayerfully consider what is being asked of us.  Let's think about what is really important on our Christian journey.  My dear father-in-law looked around the other day at all the knick-knacks that my mother-in-law collected and said, "Clearly, you can't take it with you".  

 

 

 

~ Anne Lewis