Why On The Weekend?

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.

The weekend is here! You had a hard week at school, and you're ready to just sleep late, play Wii and watch TV - until your mother tells you the list of things you have to do.

Of course, you groan and complain! Who wouldn't? Closing your family's pool for the season and trying on all your winter clothes to see what fits is not what you planned for the weekend.

This week's Gospel (Mark 10:17-30) is about the unexpected. A man asks Jesus how to get to heaven, although it sounds like the man really wants to be complimented for doing things right already.

That's like a kid looking forward to the weekend. You worked hard at school the whole week, and all you want to hear is, "Good job! Now you can relax; you've done everything you need to."

In the Gospel story, like in life, things don't work that way. Jesus agrees the man has done well obeying the Ten Commandments - not lying, hurting and the rest - but doesn't stop there.

Instead, He tells the man to help the poor and follow Him. It's like a list of things to do on the weekend: The man is unprepared to hear it, and he's disappointed. He wanted to take it easy.

Working at school and obeying Commandments are great, but there are other things to do, too. Jesus wanted the man to know it's not enough not to kill people - you have to help them! 

Unfortunately, it's also not enough for a kid to get through a week at school. It's good to take time to relax on the weekend - but you still have to help close the pool.

(10/08/09)