Gospel: 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.”
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Reflection:
Is there a reward for following Jesus? Yes
there is! What then is the reward, material riches? No, it’s something more
profound than anything in this world. It’s something that no worldly riches no
matter how enormous could buy.
Many of us may quantify through material riches
the reward that Jesus will give us once we decide to follow Him. This is a big
lie for Jesus is not a God of materialism yet there is a
God of materialism named the devil. The devil
would normally entice his prospects with material wealth. Then as the devil
takes control of his prospects he slowly destroys the person and his/her family.
So what is the reward of following Jesus? It’s
eternal life (Matthew 19:29)! Eternal life that you would even feel while you
are still living in this world. For example, those who faithfully follow Jesus have
this certain feeling of peace and serenity in their lives. They are always peaceful
and not afraid no matter the challenges that they may encounter. This is so
because they already gave their faith and confidence in the Lord.
Then, when these faithful followers finally
depart this world, they will be like seeds planted beneath fertile soil. They
will once again rise and have new life. Not in this temporal world anymore but
in heaven in the company of God and His holy angels.
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