Disciples as Children

Pentecost +19 - Year B

Children are conniving, manipulative little literalists. They use that trait to explore the world and to play dumb. No wonder Jesus called his disciples, “children”.

The disciples seem to periodically look for wealth and power through backing the right Messiah. It’s not so much that they can’t understand the rich ending up empty, it’s that they don’t want to hear this for it would change their relationship with one another, with visitors/guests, and with Jesus.

It is real easy for kids to stall by looking perplexed. Perhaps a next instruction will be more to their liking. Might as well stone-wall the unexpected, uninvited, and unwelcome perspective of Jesus. It really is hard to see how hard it is for the rich to enter a beautiful realm. We have imagined ourselves in their place, forever. Now to hear we have been barking up the wrong tree is more than discouraging. Let’s just not “get it” and maybe news more to our liking will come about our entitled perks and when we get rich we will be able to simply glide on in.

Still, there is a loop-hole, loop-hope, “with G*D all things are possible”. When I get rich I’m sure I’ll do that well and G*D will give me a fortress wall entryway into heaven for me and my camels. If I’m a Jesus follower and rich, I’ll receive a hundred gazillion time more than I will have invested. The Prosperity Gospel has been with us for a long time.

I think I’ll just ignore that last line about the first being last and bet on a heavenly lottery that I won’t be among the many so, but will be with the exceptional, not-impossible, few of the many. Too bad about you.