Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Wednesday, October 24, 2001
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of
yourself
more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to
the
measure of faith that God has assigned.
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good!" This should have
been a
signal to the man about the inadequacy of his question. If even the Master made no
claim to
goodness, than how could this young inquirer make such a claim?
"But as for your question," Jesus continued, "you know the commandments: don't kill,
don't
commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, respect your father and mother."
"Teacher," the man replied, "I've never once broken a single one of those laws."
Now, our first reflection might be that this young man's halo was a bit too snug. He
hadn't
broken a single law? He had never lied? Never cheated? Never stolen so much as a
nickel when
he was a kid? It sounds like he is in love with his own virtue.
As a Christian, you need to be careful "not to think of yourself more highly than you
ought to
think."
(Romans 12:3
NRSV)
A young man comes to Jesus to ask this question. "Good Teacher," he says.
Immediately
Jesus is on guard. The young man is beginning with idle flattery. "Good Teacher," he
asks "what
must I do to get to heaven?" Notice the focus of the young man's question. He's not
interested in
pleasing God or growing in spirituality or pursuing truth. He figures he's got it made in
this
world now how can he ensure a firm hold on the next life?
Dear God, keep me humble. Amen.
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