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For the times we have failed to give things up for the sake of Christ, Lord, have mercy...
For the times we gave up things for our own good, Christ, have mercy...
For the times we have failed to realize the difference between giving things up for the sake of Christ and for our own good, Lord, have mercy...
My dear sisters and brothers,
When was the last time you could recall that you did something for Christ and you realized that the reward of your action was in the action or mere doing of it itself?
I might say that I am a religious and I gave up everything for you Lod… Very good…
You might say, my entire life of marriage itself is a total giving up for you Lord… 100% agree.
Or you could say, my job itself is a total sacrifice for you, you Lord… Totally agree…
Or I have given up so many of my wishes and made penance during the season of Lent and I do continue to do them every Friday… Very good.
Realizing what it means to do things for Christ is essential for understanding the ‘dynamism of the kingdom of God…
The gospel text of today is from the Gospel of Saint Mark and it is the immediate follow-up of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man. It is where Jesus said that it is not easy for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
And when this happened, Peter and the disciples were there at the scene.
So they became curious. So Peter being the spokesperson for the disciples, speak up and that’s where we have the Gospel text of today.
In that he asks, so then Lord, we have given up everything, unlike that rich man - our fathers, mothers, families, fishing boats and nets, and so our earthly occupations..for you whom we believe to be the Christ and for the truth you live by and proclaim… And so, “What now”? “what awaits us”
Jesus realizing the existential question posed by Peter, is trying to make him aware of the pain and the gain of the discipleship…. The sacrifice and the reward of being a disciple…
And it’s where Jesus is making the disciples aware, as much as he is making us aware today, of how things are in the kingdom of heaven…
Those who are last now for my sake will be considered first in the kingdom of God;
Those who are first now for their sake will be considered last in the kingdom of heaven;
and
Those who give up and are persecuted and in pain because of me will receive a hundred folds here as well as in the kingdom of God.
My dear sisters and brothers these are just three examples of Gospel paradoxes and, I believe, understanding them is crucial to get a better grasp of the kingdom of God.
What must Jesus be saying to us then:
Of course, he is making us aware of the difference between doing things for Christ and doing them for our own good;
The difference between sacrificing things for Christ and doing them for our good; and
In so doing he is making us aware of the reward here on earth as well as the reward to come.
This reward is nothing but the action itself. Mere giving up itself. Mere sacrificing itself. If we have done it for the Lord, our reward is in our action itself.
Therefore, Jesus is trying to make us aware that we should not wait until we receive our rewards in heaven.
Rather, by doing things for Christ, our reward is already a hundred folds here on earth as well…
So my dear sisters and brothers, when is the next time that you are going to do something for Christ and you realize that the reward of your action is in your action itself?
