GOSPEL, Mark (10: 28-31)

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

 The Gospel of the Lord

 

REFLECTION

 On behalf of his companions, the apostle Peter wanted to know what the advantage was in following Jesus: “You can see that we left everything and followed you”. Jesus promises a multiplied reward for the present and eternal life in the future.

After renouncing his family, affections and his material goods, the disciple will find, with faith and in a united community,  the support he receives will be more fulfilling than the small belongings he has renounced.

However, by following Christ, the disciple is far from resolving all his problems. Embarking with him on the adventure of the Kingdom presumes that he is willing to face the storms that accompany the entire crossing during his life.

Being a Christian is not an obscure path that leads to death, but rather a gift in the present and in the future. “In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mathew 20:16)
The follower of Christ knows in whom he trusts, and his total dependence on God will be abundantly accumulated by a generosity that goes beyond all measure.

Such a feeling of personal fulfilment cannot be bought or acquired.

Jesus taught this two thousand years ago, when, he spoke of detachment as a condition for following him, thus allowing the Disciples to live their lives detached of all worries enabling them to reach the Kingdom of God.

A detachment of all material influences is the condition necessary for following Jesus, attaining admittance into the kingdom of God and committing to work for a more just and more humane world, with special attention to the needs of the poorest.

 

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the reward you promised to those who follow you in generous poverty. Give us the hearts of the poor, stripped of everything, to receive the wealth of your Kingdom, your love, your grace and eternal life tenfold.