Greater Demands
If you know what you need to do, why ask?
People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." A certain ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'" He replied, "I have kept all these since my youth." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, 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." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" He replied, "What is impossible for mortals is possible for God." Then Peter said, "Look, we have left our homes and followed you." And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." - Luke 18:15-30
The lesson in today's Gospel reading may be this.
If you keep asking, you will continue to be challenged to do more.
When the people brought their children to Jesus, the disciples thought this was not a good thing, until Jesus told them to let the children come.
The children have nothing but innocence to bring. No baggage. No issues. No temptations keeping them from being fully engaged.
The ruler should have been content that he had done all he could to obtain salvation, but he must have felt he was lacking something. Or maybe he just sought praise from Jesus to stroke his ego.
Peter, too, had already proven himself, but felt Jesus was asking more of him.
The more we seek reassurances that we are doing the right thing, the greater the sacrifice expected of us.
Sell everything. Leave home. Be fully committed.
If we live each day as though it is a gift from God, we will automatically give thanks and praise in all we do.
Who can ask more of us than that?
We can. And we do when we want to stand out.
Maybe we just need to do our best.
More to come...