Jesus invites us to embrace the difficulty of giving up things in order to follow his Way in today’s gospel reading. St Bernard of Clairvaux prompts a reflection on why we might do so.
Thanks to BK under Creative Commons.
Read the gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 19 and verses 16 to the end.
As usual, Jesus pulls no punches! How do these conversations make you feel? Spend some time with those feelings.
Reflection
What might a healthy ‘giving up’ be, for you?
The rich young man in the story was asked to give up his possessions. It is too easy to look in judgement at those with more than us and assume they should give it away - this is not what Jesus would want! Consider instead the story’s personal challenge: what is it I depend upon for my sense of security; what invitation to ‘let go’ do I need to consider?
The consequence of giving something up - or even realising you could give something up - at Jesus’ suggestion is ‘treasure in heaven’ (verse 21 of the reading). That means an eternal, wholesome treasure.
It may be that you have given up precious things during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without this crisis, you would not have considered doing so - and yet, you have. What does that mean? Have you discovered unexpected life in letting things go? Or are you struggling with the impact of your loss? Perhaps both apply. Spend some moments thinking about this.
We invite you to listen to Chris Tomlin’s version of Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Additional lyrics say “Here am I, all of me, Take my life, it’s all for thee.” (Find original words here).
Finally, there is the knotty question, why give up all, to follow Jesus; why believe his promise of eternal treasure?
Bernard of Clairvaux, whom the Anglican church commemorates on Thursday 20 August, was known for his austerity. He might say the reason we give things up is love.
He is eloquent on the subject of religious love, love for God:
“Why should not the creature love the Creator, who gave the power to love? Why should he not love Him with all his being, since it is by His gift alone that he can do anything that is good? It was God’s creative grace that out of nothingness raised us to the dignity of humanity; and from this appears our duty to love Him, and the justice of His claim to that love.”
Maybe a deep love for God enables us to give up all things that are not good for us. But how do we cultivate that love? Do St Bernard’s words make sense to you? How do they make you feel?
Elsewhere, he says:
“There are those who long to know [love] for the sole purpose of knowing … that is curiosity. There are those who long to know [love] in order to become known …that is vanity. There are those who long to know [love] in order to sell … that is profiteering. There are those who long to know [love] in order to be of service … that is charity. There are those who long to know [love] in order to profit themselves. That is prudence”
Does this sound like an encouragement to selfishness?
Perhaps really loving yourself gives you courage to release things you cling to that are not actually beneficial, naturally releasing extra time and resources for others’ benefit and helping you to love them. Which, in its turn, could be a way of expressing love for, learning to love, God.