This Sunday we meet a real seeker, a guy who shows himself to be earnest and even wise. He speaks well, and Jesus affirms his understanding. In fact, Jesus loves him and invites him to come and follow. However, when Jesus tells him he has to sell everything and donate the money, this would-be disciple goes away sad. As Jesus says, it’s hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Most people who hear this story assume the man goes away sad and that’s the end of it, that he can’t give everything up and, thus, cannot follow Jesus. But I say – not so fast. We don’t really know what his next move is. Maybe he goes away sad because he’s headed home to pack up his stuff and put it up for sale. Maybe later, in an instance that doesn’t get recorded in Scripture, he comes trotting back to become one of Jesus’s many unnamed followers. Maybe it’s idealistic or just naïve, but I can’t help but to give him the benefit of the doubt. I see potential in this thoughtful inquirer.

I’m not sure what it is in me that seeks and finds potential like this, except that maybe I need to believe what Jesus says later in the passage, that “all things are possible for God.” You might remember that this is not the first time we hear that in Scripture. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel tells Mary the same thing as she stands there dumbfounded at the news that she will conceive and bear the son of God. She’s not a woman of means, nor does she have religious or political power, and she’s not even married yet. But “nothing will be impossible for God,” and so things work out for her and her soon-to-be husband and child. Now, “all things possible” does not mean that all things are easy, to be sure. Mary can attest to this, as can Jesus and his disciples even before the passion unfolds, but we know that’s coming too. And nothing will be impossible there either, because the story ends, and also begins again, with the resurrection.

So, I do believe that all things are possible with God. I believe that people can change if we want to, that if we’re open, we can grow into the people God calls us to be. When I was a young adult inquiring about entering my community, I was certainly not a rich young person, but I was earnest, like the seeker in our Gospel. I had plenty of reasons why it would be hard to enter religious life, like I didn’t know anyone else making this life choice, it seemed really hard to get rid of my stuff and move in with sisters whom I didn’t really know, and I had a prevailing sense that I just wasn’t good enough to do this. And yet, all things became possible with God. A bunch of people came and helped me move when the time came. I got to know the sisters, and, as it turns out, that first community experience was amazing. We prayed together and shared and laughed and had a great time. The not good enough part of me, well, I’ve come to see that we’re all who we are and doing the best we can to grow. And God makes it possible.

Deep down inside, I believe that each of us has the capacity to grow. It might be hard. There will be times when we won’t like it, but God is with us. Now, there are forces working against some people more than others. Racism, bigotry, poverty, and privilege/not privilege are always at play. People have to contend with these, but I believe in the possibility that these injustices can be eradicated. And, as we work to bring about justice, in a way, we work to make all things possible for each other too. As we work to bring about God’s kingdom, we align ourselves with the God of possibility, When it gets hard, I hope that we can remember that all things are possible with God, so that we can trust God in all things.

Back to our rich friend in the Gospel who has all the privilege in the world. Do you think he will be able to lay aside that privilege and follow Jesus? Jesus, by the way, despite his divinity, is not privileged; remember that although he is in the form of God, he did not consider that to be something to be grasped but emptied himself (Phil 2:6). Jesus wants us to be like him, to lay aside all that prevents us from following him. I believe in this seeker’s potential as a disciple, and I believe in our potential as disciples too. It’s not something we can grow into on our own, but with God’s help, all things are possible.

For Reflection:

• How have you seen this at play in your life, the impossible becoming possible?

• Do you believe in human potential, that if we really work at it and stay open to the Holy Spirit, we can change?

• How do we as Christians clear and resolve barriers so that all people are free enough to reach their potential?

• And how is God calling you to grow right now?

by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She’s a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and pumpkin spice.

If you liked this reflection, sign up for our newsletter and receive a reflection every week, along with a podcast and reminders about events. :)