REFLECTIONS TODAY
Gospel • Mark 10:17-30 [or 10:17-27]
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Peter began to say to him, “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.”
Investing with Jesus
In the First Reading, the author of the book of Wisdom takes pride in the fact that he has given up worldly treasures in exchange for the eternal treasure of wisdom. The theme of giving up wealth is repeated in the Gospel, in the struggle of a certain person who has tried everything to follow God’s commandments.
Running up to Jesus, he sees that his efforts are affirmed, to which Jesus points the missing element to perfect his quest for the Kingdom of God: he has to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. He goes away sad, for he owns plenty.
Peter, certain that he has given up everything to follow Jesus, asks him what gains are acquired in losing earthly wealth and familial relations. Jesus’ words are enticing: “There is no one who has given up… for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age” (v 29-30).
What a promise! Jesus promises that we will receive more than we have lost in following him and his Gospel: “House or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands” (v 29). Is this not enticing? A person considers himself/herself lucky when investment returns a sizable amount from the initial capital, yet here, a hundredfold is guaranteed! (v 30).
That should make for a sound investment, right? But as in any contract, we should read the fine prints. Here, Jesus does not mince words to include “with persecutions” (v 30) in the contract. At this point, Bishop Robert Barron says that a Christian should know that the closer he/she comes to Christ, the more he/she will be hated by the world.
To lose our possessions and relations in following the Gospel is already a big step to take. How much more is the threat of persecutions that comes as a cost of our discipleship?
Are we ready for this kind of investment? It is definitely risky, but considering that eternal life is the reward, why wouldn’t we take the risk?
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.