The gospels are often frustrating to me in that they never tell what I think are the important details in a lot of the stories.  Today’s is no exception to that rule.  I want to know WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?  What happened to that rich young man in the story?   

In my mind’s eye, he’s a young, college age kid.  He RUNS to Jesus.  So excited.  So ready to do whatever is asked.  He got parents’ permission to go on the two week long service trip with Jesus.  He’s proud of his credentials – He has kept all of those dang commandments.   He is ready.   

And Jesus is impressed by him.  More than impressed.  It is the only recorded line in the gospel where we are told that Jesus looked at someone and loved them.  So you can imagine the intenseness of this interaction.  There is a lot going on.  “What must I do?”  “You know already.”  “Done that – but there has to be more”.  “Don’t you see, I’m young, and on fire with love and ready to give and go anywhere and do anything – PUT ME IN COACH!...” 

Jesus looking at him, loved him.  Which is why he says what he says next.  “Sell everything, give it to the poor.  Then you will have treasure in heaven…  Then come and follow me.”  The rich young man goes away sad.  As hopeful as the line about Jesus looking at him and loving him, is as tragic as that little line: “He went away sad.”  That’s all we hear of the story.  I’m dying to know how it turned out.  Did that “Look” of Jesus weigh on the young man’s heart?  Did he take some time to sort it all out, get his head on straight and say, “I’ve gotta go and follow him.  There is nothing better to do nor more important to be than his follower.”  Or was he haunted, both by Jesus’ word and his choice not to say yes when he had the chance. 

I wonder, because I know there are times when I don’t ‘sell my possessions’, don’t seek to know and understand that part of my life that gets in the way of Jesus.  Jesus’ desire was that the young man be FREE to follow him, unencumbered by anything.  For you and I, it can be, and probably is, something else.  There is within us, the same seed that allowed the man to go away sad….

   For me, it is not the wealth of the rich young man that keeps me from following Jesus these days, but a lack of intentionality about my life that shouts at me to wake up.  We are halfway through October and I have no idea where the time went.  And like the rich young man, I feel Jesus looking at me with love and inviting me to be so mindful in every day, every moment, of the chance to love and serve him. 

      And for you, what is the obstacle, what is the road block, what is it in your life that God wants you to let go of so that you can follow him?  Perhaps it is as I have discovered, that ‘going through the motions’ experience of life.  ‘Oh, it’s just another class.’  Or ‘another wedding’ or ‘another visit with my family’.  Perhaps it is a refusal to listen to the little clues I find in my life about what vocation I am supposed to choose.  “I have to choose a career that makes money, or else how will I pay my student loans or live up to my parents expectation of me.”    Perhaps it is the ‘busy-ness’ that we let ourselves get so caught up in, that keeps us from following Jesus. 

      So, spend some time this week, like the rich young man, letting Jesus look at you with love.  Make sure that you see that gaze, look into his eyes, see the love there; see the compassion there.  And then hear him say to you:  “If you want to be my disciple, then there is one thing more that you must do…” 

      Then, listen for his response.