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 Satan or the devil. The devil would normally entice his
prospects to be greedy 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 we would even feel while we 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 to 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.
Would you follow the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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