Tuesday March 1, 2022

Tuesday of 8th Week in Ordinary Time

 

A HUNDREDFOLD REWARD    

        

The Holy Spirit was already at work in the prophets of the Old Testament, but the Good News of Christ is a much clearer revelation. Set all your hope on the grace of Christ.

What about those who give up everything for the sake of the kingdom of heaven? They will not only “inherit heaven” but find happiness on earth in the freedom from worries about losing material goods and the inner freedom of belonging to all, in the joy of winning many brothers and sisters in the community. And curiously enough but realistically, Mark adds that they will retain their happiness and reward even in the contradictions and persecutions they encounter in their endeavors for the kingdom. One must remain free and poor within oneself.

 

First Reading: 1 Peter 1:10-16

The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this! So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

 

Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

 

Prayer

Lord our God,
we hold you to your promise
to those who have left everything
for the sake of your kingdom
and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, your Son.
Let them be men and women
poor in the things that count on this earth,
but rich with your love and your grace
and with a wealth of friends
to whom they can bring
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Reflection:

1 March 2022
Mark 10: 28-31

Share in the “Hundred fold” of God

Jesus was addressing the disciples to get away from the dangers of being possessed by the devil of wealth and riches. People are frightened of being possessed by the devil. Material riches is one of those ways how the devil can possess the humans. Thus, yesterday we reflected on the words of Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.”

It is in this context that in today’s gospel Peter says, “Look at us. We left everything and followed you.” As always, Mark uses the voice of Peter to represent the group of the disciples who gave up their families and their trade to follow the master. But, Mark in the following chapters would tell us that Peter and his companions had not really left behind all their attachments – their own self-reliance, or their need for prestige and position.

Claretian Father Paulson Veliyanoor, in his reflections on the passage says, “there were far more important but subtle attachments they had not yet given up. Almost immediately after Peter’s declaration, we have the selfish request from James and John: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” They gave up material possessions alright, but the attachment to positions and honours had not left them.

Jesus mentions a number of things and people should be left behind for the cause of the Kingdom. It is interesting to note that among those things and people, no mention was made about wives or husbands. Jesus had already made the point that the husband and wife should became one flesh, yoked together by God. He also gives a list of things and people that a disciple would receive a hundredfold. The list includes brothers and sisters, mothers and children – but there is no mention of fathers. In his Kingdom, all are to be like children and we have only one Father – the God.

Mark obviously had in mind the situation of his community of disciples in Rome. The experience of the unity, affection and mutual commitment within the community of disciples would be immeasurably more bonding than the ties of natural family. The promise of a hundredfold is the result of leaving all for the sake of Jesus and for the sake of his gospel.

Today’s gospel calls on us for a conversion of heart and a radical change in our relationships, where we share in the “enough” and the “hundredfold” that God has given us. In this plan of God, no one is regarded greater or smaller than others, because we all share the same image of God.

 

Video available on Youtube: Share in the “Hundred fold” of God