Mark 10:17-30
In the first reading of today's Liturgy we hear about Wisdom. In the Old Testament, Wisdom is held in high esteem. It is like God's sharing of God's very being in a way that gifts humanity. And, in a sense, Wisdom is culminated in the New Testament in the Person of Christ Jesus.
The Second Reading from Paul's letter to the Hebrew adds a cutting edge to Wisdom: "The Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirt, joint and marrow..."
And in the Gospel Jesus applies the two-edged sword to the rich young man, cutting right down into the way he was most personally challenged: "Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.'"
Jesus looked at the man with liberating love. Out of love, he pointed to the way to freedom; but the man chose to continue his bondage to his possessions that were many. And he went away sad.
I am reminded of the saying, "Watch what you wish for, for you may get it." God plants the gift of desire deep in the soul of us all. But to expose our dreams to the clear light of God's liberating love risks us coming face to face with the kind of wisdom that confronted Peter at the end of the Gospel: "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the sake of the gospel" … who will not receive a hundred fold, and persecutions, and future eternal life.
Ultimately, human happiness comes down to a choice. Fulfillment awaits our desire; God's own dream stands in ready to subsume our dreams; liberating light will flood the dark corners of our hearts. We stand as "thrillers on the threshold" as did the rich young man who approached the Christ. But will we walk away sad as did he when searing wisdom points us the way?