Jesus, the Rich Young Man and the Meaning of Life

All Scripture is inspired, but some passages of Scripture inspire us more than others. Some verses and passages stay with us in ways that others do not. We feel drawn to them over and over again. They speak deeply to us. When we hear them proclaimed at Mass, we pay a little more attention. We sit up a little straighter. If a preacher or teacher mentions the passage or verse, our hearts beat a little faster as we listen to what he or she will say.

I have this experience with Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man. Every time I read or hear it, I discover new layers of meaning. I feel as though I have only begun to scratch the surface and that my soul has not yet absorbed all of its spiritual nutrients.

The passage is so rich (pun intended) because it points to the deepest desires of our hearts. We long for more. We ache for eternity. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has put eternity in our hearts.”

The episode, found in all three Synoptic Gospels, seems like an unexpected interruption in the narrative. But it isn’t. It becomes the occasion for an important teaching as Jesus nears the end of his public ministry.

The episode unfolds in three parts. First comes Jesus’ encounter with a stranger that happens suddenly. Second, Jesus offers a teaching and enters into dialogue with the disciples about the encounter. Third comes a revealing discussion with the apostle Peter. Matthew tells us the man was young, Luke identifies him as a ruler, and Mark, along with the others, describes him as rich. The rich young ruler’s encounter with the Lord begins confidently but, quite unexpectedly, ends in sadness. Nevertheless, the message of the passage as a whole offers incredible hope and bold promises to Jesus’ friends and followers.

This passage haunts me. Maybe I am intrigued by it because I so easily identify with the man himself. That’s ironic because I am neither young, nor rich, nor a ruler. Nonetheless, I feel as though his story mirrors my own in many ways. Like the rich young ruler, I desperately want more and ache for the eternal. Like him, I struggle to let go of the obstacles that keep me from experiencing it.

I not only identify with the young man, but also strongly with the apostle Peter as he speaks up in the third part of this story. Appearing only briefly, he asks a question so real, so raw, and so important that it surprises and startles you. Yet it is a question we all ask in our hearts, even if we are reluctant to voice it. Peter had no such reluctance, a trait he often demonstrated.

The three stages of this scene introduce three questions that are among the most important questions we can ask:

• What do I need to do to gain eternal life?
• Who can be saved?
• When it comes to following Jesus, what’s in it for me?

These questions lie in our hearts, but amid the constant chaos of life, we rarely slow down long enough to ponder them.

These questions, in turn, reveal a challenging truth—or rather, two truths. We all desire purpose and success, happiness and joy. In a word, we all want more. The second truth is that we often represent the biggest obstacle to that fulfillment. We have met the enemy, and it is us.

This August, Father Michael and I will release our brand-new book, Jesus, the Rich Young Man and the Meaning of Life. The book takes a deep dive into this passage and explores the questions above. It is a short book, laid out in six brief chapters, making it perfect for prayer and reflection. Each chapter includes a reflection, a prayer, and questions to ponder.

Along with the book, we will create homily drafts, small group videos and discussion questions, and marketing materials so your parish can use the book as part of a Lenten reflection journey. The book will provide a perfect opportunity to invite your parish—or even just a few friends—into deeper discipleship. For parishes, it will also be a great opportunity to begin small groups. We have even created a simple guide to help launch a small group campaign.

If you would like to learn more about the book, get a sneak peek at the cover, read a sample chapter, and learn how to access the bonus materials mentioned above, click here: rebuiltparish.com/richyoungman

I think you will really enjoy the book. My hope is that it will help both you and the people you lead grow deeper in discipleship.

Rooting for you,
Tom