In our gospel reading today, Jesus makes a shocking statement to the man he encounters, a man who considers himself a good person – Jesus says to him, “no one is good but God alone.” Amazingly, sinless Jesus himself does not even consider HIMSELF good. And if we assume we inherit eternal life by being good, what kind of astronomically high bar is God setting, that even Jesus wouldn't qualify? But we DON'T inherit eternal life by being good, we inherit it by entering the kingdom of God. And entering the kingdom of God is impossible on our own, because to enter the kingdom of God, we have to leave behind the kingdom of ME....
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who BELIEVE that human beings are basically good, and those who believe that human beings are basically NOT good. For those who believe that people are basically good, all that is required to establish heaven on earth, is for people to be properly organized under properly installed wise leaders, because good people will naturally work honestly to their full potential as they are directed, and good leaders will naturally use their power honestly to generate the most benefit for the common welfare. This kind of people are sometimes called names like “collectivists” or “socialists.” For those who believe that people are basically NOT good, there can be no heaven on earth, and the best you can hope for is a system where people can trade fairly and equally, and where leaders have the least amount of power to abuse. And despite the political direction of the churches in the last several decades, Jesus has something to say to the group of people who believe that people are basically good – Jesus calls “BS”...
The man Jesus encounters in our gospel reading is your garden variety “good” person. He respects Jesus' authority and his mission. He is a faithful man of justice and integrity, who fulfills completely the second tablet of the Ten Commandments that Jesus rattles off for him. And if that was not enough of a commendation, Jesus LOVED him, this we know, for the bible told us so - something it does not say about the Pharisees and scribes!
But there was one thing missing. Jesus asks the man to release his many possessions, and follow him. And the man refuses. He is unwilling to enter the place where God is king, because he is unwilling to leave the place where HE is king, the kingdom of his wealth and the power his wealth can bring over others. The man walks away shocked and grieving, because he believed he could bring his own kingdom with him, into eternal life.
Peter, as confused as always, chimes in later, “aha, it's all about sacrifice. Hey Jesus, we DID sacrifice everything to be here with you.” But Jesus replies, “Hey Peter, everything you sacrificed started off as God's in the first place, and I repay you for it anyway with countless blessings in this age. Are you willing to enter a kingdom where you might be LAST, even though you think you should be FIRST? THAT'S what is tougher to do than for a camel to be threaded through a needle.”
Our churches, as confused as always, chime in today, “aha, it's all about the poor. Hey Jesus, we are trying to get our basically good leaders to implement universal basic income, so that all of us, but mostly those of THEM with too many possessions, can give money to the poor.” MY PERSONAL GUESS is that Jesus would reply, “How can you not see that making poor people dependant and entitled is the act of creating your own kingdom? You are hoping to exercise the power of the wealth that you will collect and dole out.” And I pray that if my personal guess is wrong – if God truly is in favour of socialism - that he makes it possible for me to be saved, because that's one tough needle my camel will need to get through.
Status, wealth, ideas about justice, our own sense of “goodness”....which of these things will WE need to relinquish from the kingdom of ME, in order to enter the kingdom of God? What will we say when God invites the “good-for-nothing” prodigal son into eternal life? Will we smile and say, “wow, our king is so merciful?” or will we be resentful? What will we say when God rewards the labourer who worked only one hour, with the same eternal life as us who have been Christians from birth? Will we smile and say, “wow, our king is so generous?” or will we grumble with a sense of entitlement? What will we say when God says to someone we looked down upon, “Friend, move up higher!” Will we smile and say, “wow, our king shows no partiality?” or will we fume with jealousy? “Children, how hard it is to let God be the king. In fact, for mortals, it's impossible.”
“But not for God.” Through his Son Jesus, God demonstrates what it is like to enter God's kingdom. Jesus lays down his life at God's direction and for God's purpose. And God in turn raises Jesus to new life for his affirmation. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate heroic act in God's plan of salvation. And yet, in complete humility – in the vein of making himself last – Jesus downplays his own goodness and directs his followers to focus instead on God.
Oh Lord, you know it's hard to be humble! But here on Thanksgiving Sunday, the Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity to take a small step in that direction. In giving thanks to God, we can release some of our sense of entitlement. In giving thanks to God, we can recognize all those everyday blessings we take for granted. In giving thanks to God, we can proclaim his love for us. And in giving thanks to God, we can pledge our trust in his plan for us, and our gratitude that we are made into citizens of his kingdom.
Gracious God, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus to show us your goodness, and enable us to enter your kingdom. Keep us open to your purposes, and help us to renounce those things that trap us in the kingdom of me, in Jesus' name, amen...