Sorry that you asked?

Jesus, teach me not to be disappointed when an answer to my question is different than I expected! Amen.

A man asked Jesus how to get to heaven. "Follow the Ten Commandments," Jesus said. The man said, "I do that already." Jesus told him, "One more thing: Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, then come follow me." The man sadly went away, because he was rich and didn't want to do what Jesus asked.

"I'm bored. What can I do?" you ask your mom. "Clean your room, help me with dinner -- and did you finish your homework?" she answers.

All of a sudden, you're sorry you asked!

The man who met Jesus in this week's Gospel (Mark 10:17-30) must have felt the same way. He wanted to get closer to God -- until he found out the work he'd have to do! Then he was disappointed.

When you tell your mom you're bored, you're probably looking for something fun to do. But if she's working to clean up the house and get dinner ready, she sees your question as an opportunity to get some help.

The man Jesus met was like you: He wanted to follow Jesus, but to do that in a fun and easy way. He never thought about Jesus needing help, like money to feed poor people or folks to follow Him and pitch in with teaching about God.

If you're bored, that usually means you don't have anything important to do right now; so, even if it's not your first choice, you COULD help your mom. She wouldn't ask if she didn't need you!

On the other hand, it's your choice to help or to walk away like the man in the Gospel story did. Are you going to do what someone needs -- or just say, "I'm sorry I asked!"