Receive a hundred times more
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:00:09 +0000
SOME young people who hear the call to the priesthood or religious life hesitate to make the “leap,” thinking that leaving their families and friends behind would mean a big loss. Some parents, too, object to their sons’ or daughters’ entering the seminary or convent for fear of “losing” them.
The truth, however, is by letting go of their children they gain more families and friends in the process; just ask those who have sons or daughters in religious life or priesthood. Of course, on the part of the person making the journey, there is an apparent loss of opportunity to have or enjoy certain things. But those of us who have embraced this kind of life testify to the “rewards” that following Jesus closer offers.
This is true of any type of following Jesus closely, offering our time and talents in our parish. We lose or “waste” time, even money, but we experience immeasurable joy in serving, in being able to help others. In fact, being close to Jesus every day in service is reward in itself.
Are you afraid of following Jesus for fear of losing things or people you love? Why don’t you try and discover the contrary?
Gospel: Mk 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.”
* * *
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.