Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Jesus listens to and speaks with a rich man in today’s Gospel story, as he continues, with his disciples, his journey to Jerusalem. This conversation, initially between Jesus and the rich man and then between Jesus and his disciples, presents us with the central Gospel teaching on letting go in a way that might cause us to squirm. Jesus calls the rich man to let go of his exaggerated need for security in the form of wealth.
The Synod on Synodality is currently underway in Rome. Significant changes for the Catholic Church may be on the horizon. Letting go will be crucial. Providentially, Pope Francis preaches on the rich man story to elucidate aspects of the Synod on Synodality: “A certain rich man came up to Jesus ‘as he was setting out on his journey.’ The Gospels frequently show us Jesus ‘on a journey’; he walks alongside people and listens to the questions and concerns lurking in their hearts. He shows us that God is not found in neat and orderly places, distant from reality, but walks ever at our side. He meets us where we are, on the often rocky roads of life…let us begin by asking ourselves – all of us, Pope, bishops, priests, religious and laity – whether we, the Christian community, embody this ‘style’ of God, who travels the paths of history and shares in the life of humanity. Are we prepared for the adventure of this journey?”
The style of God is one that involves going out to others, which we do by letting go of ourselves. Jesus is going to Jerusalem to fulfill his mission. But he still takes time for this rich man. He gives his attention to the rich man. He is inwardly present to God even as he attends to the rich man. Jesus listens to him. Pope Francis is pointing out the synodal style of Jesus, which is rooted in the main synodal practice of letting go. Jesus is not attached to his mission as an ego need. A sign of such an attachment might be getting upset that someone is distracting him from his mission. Jesus does not get upset. Instead, he takes time to be with this rich man and listen.
Pope Francis continues, “Celebrating a Synod means walking on the same road, walking together. Let us look at Jesus. First, he encounters the rich man on the road; he then listens to his questions, and finally he helps him discern what he must do to inherit eternal life. Encounter, listen and discern…these three verbs…characterize the Synod.”
This meeting between Jesus and the rich man signifies a flowering of the synodal practice Jesus teaches, namely, letting go. In listening to and speaking with the rich man, Jesus displays a synodal spirituality: he meets the man, listens to him, and discerns what God wants for him. Jesus opens up space for this man and gives him attention. This is crucial for synodal spirituality: can we make the time and create the space within ourselves to listen to each other?
Jesus listens. He listens to the rich man, to the children coming to receive a blessing, to the disciples when they argue, to the Pharisees when they question, and to the pleas of a father with a possessed son. Jesus lets go of what occupies his attention at any moment to offer it to others. Letting go is the prerequisite to true listening here.
Once the rich man asks about what he has to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus discerns a response. As Pope Francis says, Jesus encounters this man and listens to him. This culminates with discernment: Jesus tells the rich man what God wants him to do. Jesus says, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Of course, as the story, goes, the rich man departs sad because he owned many possessions, and, presumably, did not want to let them go.
Jesus discerns that this man needs to let go of his wealth. He needs to let go into God. Many mystics trace their conversions to this same Gospel command of selling possessions, giving to the poor, and then following Jesus. They heard God calling them to let go of all property and possessions to find their ultimate security in the mystery of God. Will we?