Gospel in Art: Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor

Christ and the Rich Young Man, by Athos Renzo Brioschi, 1971, Gilt-bronze plaque, Church of Four Evangelists, Milan ©Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 3 March 2025
Mark 10:17-27

At that time: As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: "Do not murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Do not defraud; Honour your father and mother." ' And he said to him, 'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.' And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.' And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.'

Reflection on the bronze plaque

The Gospel reading presents us with a man who was clearly living a good and upright life, yet sensed that there was something more he could do in response to God's presence. When he asks Jesus what this next step should be, the answer proves too difficult. He is called to let go of his great wealth and follow Jesus as a disciple. This personal invitation was radical, requiring him to relinquish the security and comfort his possessions provided. Unable to take this step, he walks away sorrowful. His wealth, rather than being a blessing, had become a burden, preventing him from embracing the deeper joy and freedom that Jesus offered. However, not everyone Jesus encountered was called to this same path. For example, he often accepted hospitality from Mary and Martha, yet there is no indication that he asked them to sell their home or follow him in the same way.

Although Jesus' call to this particular man was unique, the principle remains universal: there is always a further step we can take in our journey of faith. Growing in our relationship with God requires a willingness to move forward, to deepen our trust, and to respond to his call. Like the man in the Gospel, we too can hesitate, held back by attachments, fears, or distractions. However, the Holy Spirit offers us the freedom to follow where the Lord is leading. As Saint Paul wrote, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17). This is the freedom of the children of God: the ability to become all that God calls us to be and to embrace the life He desires for us.

Our modern 1970's gilt-bronze plaque by Italian sculptor Athos Renzo Brioschi offers a striking contemporary interpretation of our Gospel reading. At its centre, a rich young man, dressed in fashionable attire, sits casually on the boot of his sports car. His posture and expression convey an air of confidence, perhaps even arrogance, yet he is noticeably attentive to Jesus, seemingly drawn to his words. In the background, above the silhouette of a city, figures can be seen climbing a ladder toward heaven. However, many struggle and fall, while only a few manage to ascend the increasingly narrow paths. At the top, heaven is symbolised as an oil lamp, radiating heavenly light, with a cross at its centre, a powerful reminder that the path to eternal life is challenging but illuminated by Christ's guidance.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-10-17-27-2025/