"Spiritual Awakenings: the Call to Higher Consciousness" Proper 23 (2)

"The Great Gold Rush Fiasco"

Once upon a time, there was a man named Larry who had a single, burning desire in life—to become filthy rich. He wasn’t interested in being just comfortably well-off; he wanted the kind of money that made people gasp when they saw his bank statement. He imagined himself cruising in yachts, attending fancy galas, and dating supermodels. You know, the usual billionaire dreams.

Larry wasn't born into wealth, but he was determined to get there. So, one day, while munching on a stale bagel at his dreary office job, he decided he'd had enough. He quit on the spot, waving a crumpled resignation letter in the air, yelling, "I'm going to be rich, you’ll see!" His boss barely looked up from her computer. She'd seen this before.

Larry’s first genius plan? Real estate! After binge-watching an entire season of a house-flipping show, Larry was convinced he could turn a shack into a mansion in a week. He found the cheapest, most run-down house in town, thinking, "I’ll slap on some paint, maybe fix a door or two, and boom—millionaire."

Spoiler alert: He was wrong. Very wrong.

The first day of renovations, Larry managed to accidentally knock down a load-bearing wall, sending the roof sagging like a deflated soufflé. After a series of "minor" disasters—like flooding the basement and accidentally electrocuting himself with a faulty wire—Larry had to admit he wasn’t cut out for real estate. He sold the house at a loss. A huge loss. But hey, at least he still had that bagel job... Oh wait.

Undeterred, Larry turned to the stock market. "This is where the real money is," he told himself, armed with nothing but vague financial advice he heard from a podcast. He invested his entire savings in a company he’d never heard of, but he liked the name—"Rocket Socks." Two weeks later, Rocket Socks went bankrupt. As it turns out, people didn’t want socks with tiny rockets printed on them. Who knew?

His bank account was draining faster than a leaky faucet, but Larry wasn’t giving up. Next up: crypto! He threw all remaining funds into something called "BitDawgCoin," convinced that digital currency was the future. A month later, BitDawgCoin was declared a scam, and its creator fled to the Bahamas. Larry’s balance? Zero.

But one day, by sheer dumb luck, Larry actually struck gold. Not literal gold, of course—he wasn’t that lucky—but he did win big in a sweepstakes he didn’t even remember entering. Suddenly, Larry had more money than he’d ever dreamed. He bought the yacht, the mansion, and yes, even the supercar that could barely go over a speed bump without scraping its undercarriage.

At first, Larry was overjoyed. He threw lavish parties, where people he barely knew showed up to drink champagne, gawk at his mansion, and take selfies with his luxury car. He felt on top of the world... for about a week.

Then, something strange happened. After the novelty wore off, Larry realized that none of these people actually liked him. They liked his stuff. He’d invite people to dinner, and they’d spend the whole time talking about his money, asking for investment tips or "loans" they never intended to repay. Even the supermodels he dated weren’t really into him—they just wanted free rides on his yacht and Instagram-worthy vacations.

Worst of all, Larry wasn’t happy. Sure, he could buy anything he wanted, but he was lonely. He missed the simplicity of his old life—watching movies with his friends, laughing about nothing, and yes, even that dreary office job where people cared more about each other than how many zeroes were on their paycheck.

One day, after yet another party filled with shallow conversations and people he didn't care about, Larry had a moment of clarity. He grabbed his phone, deleted all his dating apps, put the mansion up for sale, and traded the yacht for a modest sailboat.

Larry moved back to his hometown, got a small apartment, and reconnected with the people who actually cared about him—people who liked him for his bad jokes, not his bank account. He even got his old job back. His boss didn't even blink when she saw him walk in, saying, "Told you so."

In the end, Larry realized that love and happiness can’t be bought. They come from connections with real people, shared laughter, and those tiny, precious moments that money can’t create. As for getting rich? Well, Larry still bought the occasional lottery ticket, just in case. But this time, he wasn’t betting on money to make him happy—he already had everything he needed.

And that, my friends, was the greatest fortune Larry ever found.

Today I invite you to join me as we look closer into the story of a rich young ruler found in Mark 10. The story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 symbolizes a spiritual awakening and the inner journey from material attachments to divine consciousness. Jesus challenges us to recognize the limitations of earthly pursuits and invites us to experience the fullness of spiritual life through surrender. Moving beyond surface-level understanding of goodness and success, and awakening to the deeper spiritual truths that align us with God's eternal purpose.

1. Seeking the Way:

Mark 10:17–20 “ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.””

It’s a question I think we all have asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

The young man’s question reflects the first stirring of spiritual awakening—the recognition that true fulfillment comes from something beyond the physical world.He acknowledges his spiritual longing, but he is still bound by ego and the external idea of "goodness."

This initial awakening happens when we begin to sense a spiritual hunger that material possessions or external accolades cannot satisfy. It marks the beginning of the soul’s journey inward.

2. The Illusion of Attainment: Attachment to the Material

Mark 10:21–22 “ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

How many of us would actually sell everything you have and give to the poor? Jesus asks the man to release his material wealth, which represents the ego's attachment to earthly possessions and status. His reluctance shows that despite his spiritual longing, he is still entangled in the illusion of separation between himself and the Divine. Material wealth symbolizes everything we cling to that gives us a false sense of identity or security.

In our spiritual awakening, there is often a call to "let go" of what no longer serves our higher purpose. This may be physical possessions, old beliefs, or attachments to ego-driven desires. True freedom begins when we detach and trust in God's abundance.

3. The Narrow Path: The Ego's Resistance

Mark 10:23–27 “ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.””

Can you picture a camel going through the eye of a needle? Impossible right? The "eye of the needle" metaphor signifies the difficulty of transcending the egoic mind, which clings to its attachments. The "rich" are not just financially wealthy but represent those deeply identified with the material world. The ego resists spiritual surrender, thinking it will lose everything, not understanding that the true self can only gain.

The spiritual path requires humility, surrender, and the willingness to let go of control. When we recognize that our ego's resistance is what blocks us from the divine flow, we open ourselves to grace.

4. The Promise of Divine Reward: Rebirth in Consciousness (Mark 10:28-31)

Mark 10:28–31 “28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””

"But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Peter's statement about leaving everything reflects the ego's fear of loss, but Jesus reassures him that what is surrendered in the material world is magnified in the spiritual realm. Awakening is a shift from a sense of lack to a consciousness of divine abundance. In spiritual terms, those who place their ego last and prioritize divine will over personal desire will experience the fullness of life.

The rewards of spiritual awakening are not necessarily material, but they are far greater—peace, inner joy, and unity with God. As we let go of the ego's dominance, we are "reborn" into a higher state of being.

Spiritual Awakening and Transformation:

The story of the rich young ruler is an allegory for our own spiritual evolution. The journey to eternal life begins when we answer the call to awaken from the illusion of materialism and ego-centered living. In the days to come I invite you to consider: What attachments are preventing you from stepping fully into your divine nature? What would it mean for you to "let go" and trust completely in God’s abundance?