Mark 10:17-31
When I was little, I can remember sitting in my grandma’s living room with my cousins as she tried to teach us to cross-stitch. I had a grand plan to create a beautiful cross-stitch flower, but first, we had to learn to thread the needle. Grandma patiently showed us the best way to get the thread through the eye of the needle and taught us some tricks, but I tried for what seemed like forever with no success. Finally, I cried with frustration, “Grandma, I can’t do it! Help!” Grandma came over to me and lovingly put her arms around me. She said that it was okay and that she would thread the needle for me. I felt surrounded by love and remember fondly the afternoons spent with my cousins, enjoying time with grandma.
In our gospel lesson for today, Jesus and his disciples have a conversation about earthly and heavenly wealth. Jesus challenges the disciples’ attachment to money and things, even family, saying that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25 NRSVUE). The overwhelmed and frustrated disciples ask, “Who can be saved?” (Mark 10:26 NRSVUE)
Jesus responds with some very good news, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27 NRSVUE) He opens our eyes to see that we cannot save ourselves, but his promise draws us unto the open, loving, saving arms of a gracious God. For this God, all things are possible, from making big things pass through small spaces to redeeming and embracing all of creation.
May we be overwhelmed by the goodness of God, and may we share this generous and loving embrace with all those who need to hear this good news today. Let us live in the assurance that with God, all things are possible!
Listen: Impossible Things (Chris Tomlin)
Questions for Reflection:
- What does it mean to be disciples of a God who makes all things possible? How can we share God’s abundant and overflowing grace with those in our community?
Prayer:
Thank You for being the God of the impossible. We hold on to the hope that You are faithful to do more than we can ask or imagine. Help us to share your abundant love with others. Amen.
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