Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10, 28-31
Peter began to say to Jesus,
‘We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Leaving it all for the ALL
1) We have left everything. In the process of Christian life, you discover that this path entails making decisions on a daily basis. Because there are times when the things that the world offers you are not compatible with your journey towards eternity. You can understand this gospel as referring to consecrated life, but it goes further; it describes our entire Christian life. Because following Jesus is a decision, it implies opting for the priesthood or religious life for some, and for everyone who chooses to go to mass on Sunday instead of staying home to watch the game on TV.
2) Giving up house. Following Jesus entails a renunciation in the roots of your life. It means ‘christifying’ yourself so that Jesus may enter the life option that you have chosen. If you choose to get married, may Jesus enter your marriage. If you choose the priesthood, may Jesus enter your relationship with the presbytery. If you choose religious life, may Jesus enter your community life. Because no matter how much a married couple works in the parish or church group, no matter whether you are a priest, a monk or a nun, if you do not seek to deepen your relationship with God day by day, everything can end up in you just being a great pretender.
3) Heaven. Jesus reminds you of what your life points to: to live in peace and to know that your search is for eternity. God calls you to enjoy this life here on earth, knowing that everything can be achieved in Him and knowing that our ultimate goal is Heaven. Today, God gives you a little push to walk along his path.
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that something good is on the way.
