Reflection for Tuesday August 16, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time; Matthew 19:23-30

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:

What have you given up for your love of Jesus? Have you given up your vices and your sinfulness?

In the gospel Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Perhaps this is also your question before Jesus, What will there be for me your follower? Ah, Jesus would probably say, there would be peace in your life, there would be less human created stress and so forth.

But judging from the life of Jesus and of those who faithfully followed Him its hardships, sacrifices, poverty and even martyrdom. Now that you have an idea, would you still follow? You should still follow Jesus even if people will persecute you for following Him, even if there would be hardships and sacrifices. For this is the true measure of your discipleship.

Remember that before gold becomes a magnificent piece of jewelry it passes through severe testing by fire. And before a diamond is made it goes through several hard processes that involves crushing, cutting and refining.

So is your life with Jesus, there would be humps and bumps here and there. But nothing to worry about these humps and bumps for its just part of the testing of your faith and certainly part of your purification.

Will you still faithfully  follow Jesus from now on notwithstanding the humps and bumps in your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas