The Gospel according to Matthew (19:23-30)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
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.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Reflection:
Today’s Gospel is a good reminder of what is the highest priority in our lives. When we are truly focusing on our mission as followers of Jesus, we are sharing His love in our words and actions, and doing all we can for God’s kingdom, not thinking that we are somehow “better” or “more holy” because we are doing so. An admission on my part: I don’t always have that in mind when I am serving the Lord. Perhaps that happens to you, too.
Even Peter in today’s Gospel seems to be missing the point. He asks “what will there be for us?” The point, being, he’s thinking something like: “I’m following you and others know that I follow you, but aren’t there any perks for that?” Notice that Jesus does not chastise Peter. Instead, He tells Peter that, yes, there will be rewards for being His follower. But, notice that last line: “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” With this comment, Jesus is letting Peter know that just being outwardly a follower of Jesus is not enough. It truly has to come from the heart.
A further point is this: the choice to love and follow Jesus just because He asks us to is not a choice we make once and that’s it. We have to choose to do it every day. Why? We have to choose every day, because the things that can draw us away will change every day. We need to have God’s grace to choose Him over whatever other “urgent, non critical” thing that clamours for our attention, instead.
For me, as a Deacon, and as one who also has a full-time secular job, I know that those other priorities sneak in. And for me, it’s not just about them “sneaking in” – it is about me getting irritable because of having to choose (“why, Lord, can’t YOU choose for me?”). In the end, I realize that God lets me choose and hopes that I choose Him. The good days are the ones where I DO choose Him. May each of us also look for those “good” days where we choose to love after the example of Jesus, not because others may notice, but because God notices.
Action for the Day:
Let us choose Jesus today. Let us ask Him to help us to choose to live a life after His example, and may we share His love in all the small actions we do today.
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