WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:04.799 Yesterday a rich man walked away from Jesus' side. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.800 Today the disciples are still trying to understand what just happened. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:17.920 Jesus looks at them and says, It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:20.399 And the disciples are stunned. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.480 Who then can be saved? 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:27.120 That may be one of the best questions anyone could ever ask Jesus. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:29.199 Who then can be saved? 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:34.719 Because beneath that question is something every one of us eventually has to discover. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:37.039 I cannot save myself. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:39.600 Listen to the first reading. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:45.280 The Prince of Tyre has become enormously well, very successful. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:52.159 He's intelligent, power, influential, and slowly something happens inside of him. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.039 His success begins to deceive him. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.159 He says A God am I. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:03.600 And God answers him with a devastating simplicity. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.560 You are a man and not a god. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:10.400 That is not God humiliating him. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.799 That is God telling him the truth. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:14.239 You are not God. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:17.040 And neither are we. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:24.879 We know this intellectually, but I'm sure we always live a different way. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:45.439 Because every time I believe that everything depends upon me, every time I need to control every single outcome, control the narrative, every time I think my plans must prevail, every time I begin to believe that my accomplishments make me secure, I start occupying a throne that does not belong to me. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.680 And sooner or later life reminds me you are not God. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:52.560 A diagnosis can remind you. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:55.439 A phone call in the middle of the night can remind you. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:05.280 A relationship you cannot repair, a child you cannot protect from every suffering, a problem you cannot solve will always remind you. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:13.759 There are moments when our intelligence, money, connections, planning, and strength simply cannot fix what's in front of us. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.840 Perhaps that's why Jesus' answer today is so important. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.000 The disciples ask, Who then can be saved? 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:28.879 Jesus says, For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:34.960 That sentence is not just about money, it is about salvation. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.039 Christianity is not a self-improvement program. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:46.319 Jesus Christ did not come simply to make people good, a little bit better, friendlier. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:48.400 No, he came to save us. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:54.479 And salvation begins when I finally stop pretending that I can be my own Savior. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.479 That's the danger of wealth that Jesus is warning about. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:04.960 Money itself is not evil, but wealth can create a very convincing illusion. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:10.479 I have enough, I'm secure, I can take care of myself, I don't need anyone. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:18.159 And eventually, without ever saying the words out loud, I can begin living as though I don't really need God. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:20.960 That's the Prince of Tyre. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:22.960 A God am I. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.800 And that's why Peter's next words matter so much. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:30.560 He says, We've given up everything and followed you. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.599 Peter's not saying, look how impressive we are. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.800 No, he's describing the opposite of the Prince of Tyre. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.159 The Prince says, Look what I have built. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.919 Peter says, Look what we've left behind. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:47.439 The prince clings to what makes him powerful. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:52.240 Peter has begun to discover that discipleship requires empty hands. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:56.479 Jesus promises him something extraordinary. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:01.199 Whatever is surrender for his sake is not ultimately lost. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:02.719 It's transformed. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:06.319 It is returned in ways Peter cannot yet imagine. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:12.800 And then Jesus says, Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:16.959 Because the kingdom turns our measurements upside down. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:22.000 The world will say you're blessed when you need nobody. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:27.199 Jesus says you're blessed when you know how to desperately depend upon God. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.040 The world says accumulate as much as you can. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.519 Jesus says, surrender. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:35.920 The world says establish yourself. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.600 Look out for number one. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:39.839 Jesus says, follow me. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:44.000 The world says, become powerful enough that nothing can touch you. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.079 Jesus says, become humble enough to let God save you. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:51.600 So maybe today the question is not, do I have too much? 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.160 Maybe the deeper question is, where have I stopped needing God? 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:07.519 Where have I stopped becoming so capable, so comfortable, so successful, so accustomed to managing things myself that prayer has quietly become optional. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.720 Because eventually every one of us encounters something we cannot fix. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:16.480 And strangely enough, that moment can become grace. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.240 The moment when you finally say, Lord, I can't do this. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.560 And Jesus says, I know. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.240 But you can. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.839 And he says, Yes, I will take care of it. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:29.920 That's Christianity. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:41.439 Not that I become strong enough to save myself, not that I become good enough to earn heaven, but that I finally become humble enough to receive only what God can give me. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.759 For men, this is impossible. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.720 Thank God that sentence does not end there. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:51.600 Jesus says, but for God, all things are possible. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:53.759 So get off the throne. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.759 You were never meant to sit there. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.439 Let God be God and let Him save you. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.399 Amen.