This scripture is interesting timing. IF you do not know, I most often do not choose the text. I follow what is called a lectionary. 4 scriptures together – Psalm, OT, E, G – whole Bible in 3 years.

I like to use it because it keeps me from having my sermon then going to the Bible to prove it.

We can prove many things in the Bible. For example,
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52

We may think Jesus is all about new. After all he said you cannot put new wine in old wine skins.
But he also said: For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,[c] not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:18.

We change the form, not so much the function.
The loving God, neighbor and self is the function, the form varies. That is a gift of Lima, the old – almost 200 years old – hymns, organ – stained glass, and new, windows looking at nature, new music with guitars and beautiful songs and brass and so much more. Tradition and experience we take out of our treasure.

Frederick Buechner said Justice is the grammar of things and Mercy is the poetry.

So, what is our treasure that we keep? What is it we give away?

A man came to Jesus and called him good. Jesus said why do you call me good. Only the father is good. There is no absolute except God.

So, if we think we are trying to be good enough and Jesus wasn’t good enough then you might as well give it up, let that one go. God helps us all if Jesus isn’t good enough, never will we be. We are not good. Only God is good.

So, what must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus names commandments to do. Or what to refrain from doing. He doesn’t name all 10. Some or left out in this particular verse. More interesting to me is what is added. You shall not defraud. Sometimes gains comes through deception.
Then the man said he has obeyed the commandments that since his youth. Trying his best to be good.

Then the best part of this gospel text in Mark. Jesus looked at him and loved him. He saw something. He saw him as he was. The desires, the ambitions, the scruples, the drive, the person. He looked at him and loved him. We all long for that gaze. That gaze of God.

He wasn’t thinking, you greedy blankety blank. He wasn’t angry. Jesus wasn’t wanting something the man had. Jesus doesn’t look at the man for what he will give because of some deficit. He wasn’t jealous of the man’s wealth. He never asked the man to give HIM money. And as much as I would want it to say, he never asked him to give the church money. He said sell your possessions and give to the poor.

Empower the poor. You have more than you need. That is the one thing he lacked.

Then man went away sad. Now, did the man go away sad because he gave away his things? No, he went away sad because he KEPT them. He knew he wanted to keep his possessions. They gave him status, security … all the things we want as well.

The United States prescribes more medications than any other country in the world. And do you know what is prescribed more than any other medication? Anti-depressants. The wealthiest nation is depressed. Our stuff is making us miserable. Wealth does not buy happiness. Who knew?

He went away sad for he had much possessions. He wanted to follow Jesus and do what he said, but his was just too much to ask. Who doesn’t sympathize with the rich man? Who would want to give all away to someone who hasn’t earned it.

I think of the frozen song – let it go. We just had our Rummage sale and I noticed some people who brought things to us named a feeling of relief, a little lighter, less burdened with stuff.

Simplifying can be therapeutic.

Jesus went on to say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom. Now you may have heard about in the middle east a pathway, a gateway for the camels to enter the city called the eye of the needle. And the camel has to bend down and the owner must unpack all they have on their back to enter. Nice story. The problem is there is no such thing. There never was. It was a made-up story to give pastors an illustration to make the text more palatable to well-to-do congregations.

I am not here to tell you how much to give to the poor. I am not her to take away your stuff.

I read the text and you can take what you need from it. I hope you hear with all your heart and soul, Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Seek God first, the rest will fall in place. It isn’t simply we did good things. We are not good, if Jesus isn’t good. There are 3 rules in the United Methodist church. 1. Do not harm. We may think, hey I have obeyed the commandments. I have not participated in wrongs …. Yet the second rule is 2. Do all the good you can. It is not simply about avoiding things, like joyful things. It is not harming and doing good. The 3rd rule: Stay in love with God.

He looked at him and loved him.

Peter listens to this encounter, this conversation Jesus has with the rich man. And he starts thinking. We have given up everything. What about us?

Jesus comforts Peter with a promise of what he will gain by giving. A hundred fold, the return is more than we can comprehend. It is so hard to see this eternal reward when we can see our things, our tangible things.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. He saw him. Really saw him. He also saw what he lacked. Now, I have seen that does not go over well when someone feels they are a self made person of means. Even if they are wealthy due to inheritance to say you lack something is met with resistance often.

He looked at him. At his efforts, his desires to be seen as successful, as contributing to the world, as worthy of acclaim. What’s wrong with that. He looked at him and loved him. Named his deficit and let him go. He let him walk away from the one hundred folds returns.

I am reminded of the beautiful lyric of the song the rose, “It’s the one who won’t be taken that cannot seem to give.”

He looked at him and loved him. If we enter the story as the one seeking an answer to the question, “What shall we do?” may we pause and see Jesus’ gaze. Pause from our working, and striving and doing good long enough to see the gaze and know that gaze means God loves us.

Then, when what we lack is named, what will we do? Will we walk away sad because we can’t let it go, be it things or our need to be right, or our righteous anger, or our selfishness, or our resentment, or our money —- you might have to fill in the blank. Will we walk away sad because we kept it, or will we leave frolicking because we let it go to empower the poor and lift up those who need what we have to share.

He looked at him loved him. AMEN.