Sermon: Mark 10:23-27 Twentieth-First Sunday after Pentecost
Oct. 13, 2024
Rev. Veronica Alvarez
Faith/La Fe Lutheran Church
What would be the most difficult thing for you to give up to follow Jesus?
It’s a question we may not ask ourselves often, but it's something Jesus invites us to consider constantly. What is that one thing — or maybe a few things — that hold us back from following Him fully? It could be wealth, comfort, security, status, or even relationships. When we think about following Jesus, we may feel inspired by His teachings and moved by His love. But when faced with the cost of discipleship, hesitation creeps in.
In today’s passage from Mark 10:23-27, we are confronted with this challenge directly.
Jesus speaks to His disciples about the difficulty of letting go and fully following Him. He presents a hard truth that challenges their understanding — and ours. Jesus calls us to give up the things we hold tightly, offering something far greater in return — something we could never earn on our own.
This passage follows Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man, where He challenges the man to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. The young man walks away heartbroken, unable to let go of his wealth. Jesus teaches that salvation isn’t something we can achieve through our own efforts, moral standing, or wealth. It’s a divine gift of grace. The young man’s problem wasn’t just his wealth—it was his misplaced trust in that wealth over God.
For the rich man, his possessions were the barrier to fully following Jesus. For us, it might be something different: comfort, control, reputation, or a sense of security. Wealth in this story is more than just money — it symbolizes anything that takes priority over God in our lives. Jesus calls us to total dependence on God, asking us to release whatever displaces Him from the center of our hearts.
Jesus then says to His disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” His disciples, shocked by this, ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responds with words that shift the entire conversation: “For mortals, it is impossible, but not for God; for God, all things are possible.”
This is the heart of the gospel. What is impossible for us — releasing what we cling to, changing our hearts, and fully following Jesus — becomes possible through God’s grace. His grace is powerful enough to transform even the hardest hearts and remove the greatest obstacles.
As a Hispanic woman, I stand before you as part of a community that has often known what it feels like to live with less, to sacrifice for survival. We know what it means to hold tightly to what we have. And yet, no matter where we are in life, we ALL have our comforts — the things that make us feel secure and rooted. Jesus’ challenge isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s for anyone who holds on to something that replaces God in their heart.
For some, the hardest thing to give up may not be material wealth, but comfort — the comfort of staying silent in the face of injustice or the fear of disrupting the peace to stand up for what is right. Even in noble work, like speaking out against oppression, we can struggle to let go of our own attachments — perhaps the comfort of being seen as "the good people" or the fear of how radical Jesus’ call truly is when it asks us to take risks we aren’t ready for.
In a world so focused on success, achievement, and power, Jesus flips the script. He doesn’t call us to hoard resources or build monuments to our own greatness. He calls us to something deeper: to relationships, to justice, and to sacrificial love.
But Jesus doesn’t ask us to give these things up just to test us. He doesn’t want us to suffer for suffering’s sake. He asks us to let go so that we can be set free. Free to follow Him with open hands and open hearts. Just as He saw the chains of wealth holding back the rich young man, He sees the chains that bind us — whether it’s wealth, comfort, security, or a deep desire for control.
And here’s the best part of Jesus’ message: "For mortals, it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." What we cannot do on our own, God can do through His grace. Jesus knows we can’t do this alone, and He knows how hard it is to let go of what we think we need. And He also knows that with God, all things are possible.
Now, let’s bring this home to where we are as a church community. As you know, Pastor Jonathan has proposed moving to a half-time position, and there’s a possibility that I, as your associate pastor, might step into the senior pastor role. I understand that this brings up a range of emotions. Some of you might be excited; others may feel uncertain or anxious. Transition is difficult, and it often feels like a step into the unknown. Will things change? How will we navigate this new chapter together?
This is where our faith comes in. Faith isn’t about certainty; it’s about trust. Trust in a God who goes before us, and trust that the Spirit who has guided us this far will continue to guide us, even as leadership roles shift. Just like the rich young man struggled to release his security, we might struggle to release the sense of stability we've had in the way things have been.
But here is more good news: Jesus invites us to let go, not to leave us empty-handed, but to fill us with something greater — a deeper faith, a renewed commitment to justice, and a stronger sense of God’s call on this congregation. In this moment of transition, we are called to trust that God is at work among us, preparing us for the next chapter. Faith means believing that God’s love, justice, and power will continue to move in us and through us, even as we step into something new.
We cannot do this on our own, but we are never alone. God walks with us every step of the way, guiding, strengthening, and sustaining us. As we release what we once held tightly, we make space for the new blessings God has in store for us. This transition is not just a change, but an opportunity — a divine invitation to grow in faith, to deepen our commitment to one another, and to engage more fully in the work of love and justice in the world. As we let go of what was, we open our hands and hearts to receive what is yet to come. This is the essence of faith: to trust that God’s goodness is always unfolding, even in the unknown. Together, we will step into this new chapter, knowing that the God who has been with us in the past will remain with us, leading us forward in hope, love, and unity.
As we come to the Lord’s Table, we are reminded of what happens when we let go and trust God. At this table, we don’t need to bring our wealth, status, or even perfect faith. We come with open hands, ready to receive the grace and love that Christ offers us.
This table is where we remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us — letting go of everything, even His own life, to show us the way to true freedom and life. As we receive the bread and the cup, we are reminded that Jesus gave Himself up for us so that we might be set free from anything holding us back from living fully into God’s kingdom. At this table, we are all equal — rich and poor, certain and uncertain, strong and weak. And here, we are nourished by God’s grace, which empowers us to let go of what holds us back and to step into the new life He offers.
As we discern this path forward together, I invite you to join me in prayer. Let us seek God’s wisdom and guidance, asking for clarity, courage, and unity. Let us pray for open hearts and minds to listen to the Spirit’s leading, and for the strength to trust that God is in control, even when the future feels uncertain.
May we, as a community, come together with humility and hope, discerning not only the next step for our leadership but how we will continue to live out our mission as God’s people. Let us pray for peace where there is anxiety, for joy where there is anticipation, and for faith to trust that the God who has brought us this far will not fail us now.
As we enter this season of discernment, may we always remember: With God, all things are possible. Amen.
