A God Who Pursues

Gospel
28^th Sunday of Ordinary Time      
Mk. 10:17-30

By: Irrisse Sison

It is amazing that God never turns a soul who seeks Him, in any way, even if it is “wrongly” done, or there are a lot of misconceptions involved.  This is what happens to the young man, and what I’ve seen happen several times in my life. As I grope, no matter how imperfectly, He inconspicuously reveals Himself.

God speaks to the level that the man understands.  Eternal life? Haven’t you tried the commandments I have given? …Here the man is smug and triumphant, with a seeming clear conscience saying: I have kept them.  As far as I am concerned, I have followed them to the dot.  I could have very well been this man. Easily buoyed into complacency… I’m an essentially a good and God-fearing woman, and all the self adulating arrogance follows after this.

Jesus’ response is reflective of His heart. It showed of love and mercy given to those most undeserving of it.  At the same time, however, He is not one to sugarcoat the truth.  Turning to the young man, He confirms his initial gnawing and fear.  You have fallen short and lacked one thing.

Is the issue about neglecting the poor? To some extent there is truth to this, but I believe He is probing deeper into to the depths of the young man’s heart.  I always am filled with discomfort when God does this in my life, searching then destroying my confidence on my goodness and abilities since I easily fool myself that His verdict on me will be good because I am good. He then confronts me like He did the young man with the thing that he loved most, the wealth (and in my case reputation, talents etc.) that for the longest time took the place of God’s rightful place in his heart.  There is no doubt that this is what God desires, that He become our treasure, our first Love, and out of this love relationship with Him flow acts of love for Him through serving His people. 

Christianity isn’t a passive list of to do things to strive to do and miserably fail.  It is first and foremost a bold and personal romance initiated by the God of all the world, and you, are the pursued.