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“The Most Challenging Thing Jesus Ever Said?”
In our focus scripture reading this week, a rich man comes to ask Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. He is a good man, and sincere in his asking. Mark's gospel is alone in saying that Jesus looked on him and loved him. Out of love, not as judgment, Jesus offers him an open door to life: sell all you own and give it to the poor. Our culture bombards us with the message that we will find life by consuming. The life of the Christian assembly, though, counters this message with the invitation to find life by divesting for the sake of the other. On this weekend when our country celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday, a time when many of us are encouraged to “count our blessings,” it’s quite the challenge to hear Jesus challenge the relationship we have with all the things so many of us would count on such a list.