I can still trust

18Aug
Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

-Matthew 19:16-22


This reading is difficult, no matter how you slice it. We are taught to do the right thing. And mostly, I suspect, we try to do so. But it isn’t necessarily only our doing that brings about eternal life. It may be true, as Paul tells us that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. And especially for those of us with more than enough, it is not only more blessed, but easier than what I think Jesus is asking for here. 


What he is asking this young man, (and all of us) is to Trust. Trust the reality that God is Love. Allow yourself to sit with that and take it in knowing that what we do or don’t do in this life will be measured by God’s ultimate Love for us. Can I trust that I don’t need to overfill my time? Can I trust that in life’s interruptions I may have the opportunity to really receive Christ? Can I trust that I don’t need to be in charge and in control of every minute of every day? Can I truly learn to see with the eyes of my heart? These are the questions that haunt many very successful people - if they are courageous enough to ask them in the first place!


As a musician, or even meditation-writer, the most difficult thing to judge is when a piece is ready; ready to perform or ready to publish. Knowing that it will only be “complete” when the listener or the reader takes it in. I think Jesus is asking this young man, and us, to pause. Take him in. Trust him. And allow Goodness to flow. Isn’t that the eternity we are looking for?


Musical Reflection - Let My Love be Heard - Jake Runestad - Stellenbosch Choir


Good and gracious God, give me the grace today to leave space for you to enter into my life. Remind me that I can trust whatever unfolds for me trusting your presence in my heart. Amen.

Teaching

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and using the Narrative Enneagram as a spiritual tool. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. 

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