Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30
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.”
Yes, there is! What, then, is the reward? Is it material riches? No. It is something far more profound than anything this world can offer—something that no amount of worldly wealth, no matter how enormous, could ever buy.
Many
of us may measure the reward of following Jesus in terms of material riches,
expecting Him to bless us with wealth the moment we decide to follow Him. But
this is a great misconception, for Jesus does not call us to pursue
materialism. He invites us to seek something far greater: a life centered on
God, a heart detached from worldly possessions, and a faith that treasures what
is eternal above what is temporary.
The
devil can entice us to become greedy for material possessions. When we allow
greed and the love of wealth to take control of our hearts, they can slowly
destroy us, our relationships, and even our families. Wealth may give us
comfort, but it can never give us the lasting peace, joy, and fulfillment that
only God can provide.
So,
what is the true reward of following Jesus? It is eternal
life (Matthew
19:29). This promise is not merely something we hope to receive at the end of
our earthly journey. Its grace can already begin to shape our lives today. As
we faithfully follow Jesus, we can experience a deep sense of peace and
serenity even amid trials and difficulties. Our problems may not disappear, but
our hearts can remain anchored in hope because we have placed our faith, trust,
and confidence in the Lord.
There
are moments when we may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or afraid. Yet when we
remain close to Jesus, we discover that His presence gives us strength to carry
our burdens and courage to face each new day. The peace He gives is not
dependent on our circumstances. It flows from knowing that we are never alone
and that our lives are safely held in God's loving hands.
Then,
when our earthly journey finally comes to an end, our story will not end there.
Like seeds planted in fertile soil, we will rise again to new life. We will leave
behind this temporal world and enter into the fullness of life with God, in the
loving presence of our Lord and in the company of His holy angels.
This
is the greater reward of following Jesus. It is not wealth that fades,
possessions that perish, or achievements that eventually disappear. It is the
gift of eternal life with God, a treasure that no earthly fortune can purchase and no power in
this world can take away.
May
we, therefore, examine our hearts. Are we following Jesus because of what we
hope to receive from Him, or are we following Him because we have come to
realize that He Himself is our greatest treasure? When the things of this world
can no longer satisfy us, will we still choose to remain faithful to Him?
Are we ready to follow Jesus wholeheartedly—not for the riches He may give us, but because He alone can lead us to the treasure that never fades: eternal life with God?—Marino J. Dasmarinas
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