All Things Are Possible

Matthew 19:26 - Jesus, looking at them said, "For people it is not possible, for God all things are possible."

I imagine this was more astonishing to the disciples. Not only is their understanding that rich people are blessed by God and thus will get into heaven easily been declared wrong, but now Jesus is telling them that no one can earn their way into heaven. Remember how you felt when you learned Santa wasn't real or that the world is not in fact a just place. Everything they've been taught by those in authority has been smashed to bits IF what Jesus says is true.

I imagine a mad scramble in their minds as they try to form a coherent response to this; ideas and denials clogging their brains and rendering them speechless - at least at first. My own experience learning that my parents lied to me about how the world works and who I was is similar. Now, to be clear, I'm not getting down on either my parents or the authorities; chances are they were also lied to. But the result is the same - extreme disorientation. To believe something about yourself all your life - to have a core belief about yourself, only to learn that no one sees you that way at all is very terrifying and liberating at the same time.Terrifying because now who one is becomes a questions rather than a statement. Liberating for the same reason - we can be who we truly are, whoever we want to be.

All of us experience this sort of revelation at some point in our lives. Our parents and/or authority figures taught us incorrect information - again not on purpose - or we come into our own and that does not always mirror our parents. It might even be necessary as a way of differentiating ourselves and growing into adulthood. However, the point is not having the experience, but rather how we respond to learning that Santa isn't real, to the discovery that our parents were not perfect, to the realization that 'hell' seems kinda harsh. How do we respond?

Do we, like many, stick our fingers in our ears and shout, "la, la, la. I can't hear you." or do we let the pain in, let reality in so that we might be made clean, whole, cured; so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This is the crucial point. How do we respond to information or opinions or teaching we don't like or don't approve of or even might require something of us? Do we really trust God to have our backs or do we hide in fear? Do we want to live life by rules that are not our own - and may harm us - or do we want to step out in freedom to discover just how good God is, just how beautiful people can be?

Our fear, our recognition that when we open ourselves up to all that is good and beautiful and true we'll open ourselves to all that can harm or cause pain - these keep us tied to rules. It's a package deal. To love we must be willing to feel the pain of loss.

But I digress a bit - The disciples are hearing Jesus tell them to forget what they've "known" all their lives - that by following the Torah, they'll be 'saved,' get into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is upending that and stating that it's entirely up to God. Which is where our response of fear must be challenged. Do we trust a loving God?

Many, many Christians throughout history have missed this; starting with Peter in the very next verse. Will we?
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